Compare towns
Killingly vs Ayer vs Plainville vs Pomfret
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Pomfret has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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 | Plainville | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
8,645 |
17,551 |
4,317Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Plainville 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% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Pomfret 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. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$108,476±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$409,100±$28k 23% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
$1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% 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% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Pomfret 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT | #39 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ayer Shirley School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Pomfret School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Plainville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.5Highest |
11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet | 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.