Compare towns
Groton vs Killingly vs Lancaster 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
Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% 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 | Groton | Killingly | Lancaster | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,390 |
17,867Highest |
8,606Lowest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Killingly 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. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% 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% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Groton 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Nashoba | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | Killingly High School | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | 11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.