Compare towns
Ayer vs Winchester vs Killingly
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Killingly has the most homeowners (71.6%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ayer | Winchester | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
10,284 |
17,867Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.1±6.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$66,519±$12kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$249,500±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,174±$116 17% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,780 53% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchester and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #97 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Northwestern Regional High School | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
9.7Lowest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.