Compare towns
Killingly vs Pepperell vs Ayer vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the highest household income ($124k).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Pepperell | Ayer | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
11,663 |
8,645Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Pepperell 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% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Pepperell 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% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Killingly and Putnam 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% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell 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. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Pepperell 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. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Pepperell and Ayer 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. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Pepperell 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. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Pepperell 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | North Middlesex | Ayer Shirley School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 11.5Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.