Compare towns
Hopedale vs Killingly vs Putnam 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
Hopedale has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Hopedale | Killingly | Putnam | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,360Lowest |
17,867Highest |
9,292 |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Putnam and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±8.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hopedale and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hopedale and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hopedale and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,909±$18kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
| Hopedale and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,800±$44k 28% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Hopedale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$233Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
| Hopedale and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.3%±31.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hopedale and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #125 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Putnam School District | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | — | Killingly High School | Putnam High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
9.5Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| 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.