Compare towns
Devens vs Hanson vs Killingly vs Ayer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the most people working from home (28.5%).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Ayer has the most renters (41.9% rent).
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 | Devens | Hanson | Killingly | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
10,660 |
17,867Highest |
3,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
| Devens and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$74,878±$17kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Devens and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$444,600±$43k 34% above U.S. |
| Devens and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539 6% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556 78% above U.S. |
$6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,911 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #149 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Whitman-Hanson | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — |
| High school in town | — | Whitman Hanson Regional | Killingly High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.