Compare towns
Killingly vs Harvard vs Ayer vs Plainfield
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).
Harvard has the highest household income ($214k).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Harvard | Ayer | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
6,927Lowest |
8,645 |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Harvard and Killingly 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% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest 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% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Plainfield 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% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,204±$70 15% 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 | $3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #12 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Harvard | Ayer Shirley School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | The Bromfield High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.0 |
11.5Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| 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.