Compare towns
Groton vs Killingly vs Pepperell 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 highest household income ($193k).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
Ayer has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
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 | Pepperell | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,390 |
17,867Highest |
1,971Lowest |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.6%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 |
46.4±6.3Highest 19% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Pepperell 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% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest 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%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Pepperell 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% |
38.8% 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% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest 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±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$76,726±$17kLowest 5% below 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. |
$457,300±$40k 37% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,139±$301 19% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
| Groton and Ayer 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. |
$6,871 120% 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% |
56.6%±20.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell 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% |
10.9% 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% |
49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 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. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 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 | #153 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 | — | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | Killingly High School | — | 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.