Compare towns
Devens vs Killingly vs Winchester 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 highest household income ($189k).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($250k 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 | Killingly | Winchester | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
17,867Highest |
10,284 |
3,098 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3 25% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.1±6.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Devens 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% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±5.3Highest 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%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7Lowest 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. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$66,519±$12kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$74,878±$17k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$249,500±$17kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$444,600±$43k 34% above U.S. |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,174±$116 17% below U.S. |
$1,240±$169 12% below U.S. |
| Devens and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556Highest 78% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,780 53% above U.S. |
$4,911 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Devens and Winchester 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% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest 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 | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #97 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | — |
| High school in town | — | Killingly High School | Northwestern Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
9.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.