Compare towns
Groton vs Killingly vs Ayer vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Shirley has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Groton | Killingly | Ayer | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,390 |
17,867Highest |
8,645 |
6,976Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton 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 | #39 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ayer Shirley School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | Killingly High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.