Compare towns
Killingly vs Ayer vs Preston vs Windsor Locks
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 most expensive homes ($464k median).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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 | Preston | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
8,645 |
4,821Lowest |
12,579 |
| 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 |
46.2±7Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
| Preston and Windsor Locks 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%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Killingly 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% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% 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% |
4.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Killingly 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. |
$116,648±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Preston 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. |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
| Preston and Ayer 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. |
$5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,749 52% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Preston 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 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. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Windsor Locks 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ayer Shirley School District | Preston School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.5Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| 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.