Compare towns

Killingly vs Winchester vs Ayer vs Windsor Locks

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 youngest population (median age 39.5).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Ayer has the most expensive homes ($445k median).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 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.

MeasureKillinglyWinchesterAyerWindsor Locks
People
Population
17,867Highest
10,284
3,098Lowest
12,579
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+4.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
49.1±6.2Highest
26% above U.S.
42.1±6.9
8% above U.S.
41.4±2.6
6% above U.S.
Winchester and Ayer 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%
15.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4
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%
27.4%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.3%±5.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
27.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Windsor Locks 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±$8kHighest
4% above U.S.
$66,519±$12kLowest
18% below U.S.
$74,878±$17k
7% below U.S.
$81,205±$13k
about the U.S. average
Killingly and Windsor Locks 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.
$249,500±$17kLowest
25% below U.S.
$444,600±$43kHighest
34% above U.S.
$258,800±$14k
22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,174±$116
17% below U.S.
$1,240±$169
12% below U.S.
$1,394±$187Highest
about the U.S. average
Windsor Locks and Ayer 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.
$4,780
53% above U.S.
$4,911Highest
57% above U.S.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.9%±15.8
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor Locks and Winchester 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%
12.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
65.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
58.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1955
25 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
6.9%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Ayer and Windsor Locks 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 #97 of 149 in CT #113 of 282 in MA #109 of 149 in CT
School district Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Explorations District · Regional School District 07 — Windsor Locks School District
High school in town Killingly High School Northwestern Regional High School — Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
9.7
—
8.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.