Compare towns
Killingly vs Upton vs Ayer 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Ayer has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
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 | Upton | Ayer | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
8,189Lowest |
8,645 |
17,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
| Upton and Plainville 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Ayer 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141 26% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,126±$147 20% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Plainville 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 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. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Ayer 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ayer Shirley School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | Blackstone Valley | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.2 |
11.5Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.