Compare towns
Killingly vs Northbridge vs Ayer
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 affordable homes ($289k median).
Northbridge has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Northbridge | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
16,458 |
8,645Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Northbridge and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Northbridge 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% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 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±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
| Northbridge 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±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Northbridge 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. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
| Ayer and Northbridge 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. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
$5,057Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge 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% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Northbridge | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Northbridge High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.8Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.