Compare towns
Killingly vs Ayer vs Willington vs Plainville
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 most homeowners (71.6%).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Willington has the most renters (36% rent).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Willington | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
8,645 |
5,575Lowest |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
37.5±7.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3 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% |
23.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Willington and Plainville 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% |
33.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
30% 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% |
14.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Willington and Plainville 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±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$91,114±$12k 13% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Willington 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. |
$305,800±$48k 8% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,357±$116 4% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Willington 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. |
$5,419Highest 74% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% 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% |
70%±20.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Willington 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% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
64%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA | #104 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ayer Shirley School District | Willington School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | Plainville High School |
| 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.