Compare towns
Killingly vs Ayer vs Harvard vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
Harvard has the highest household income ($214k).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% 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 | Killingly | Ayer | Harvard | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
8,645 |
6,927Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 26% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ayer Shirley School District | Harvard | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | The Bromfield High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.5Highest |
11.0 |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.