Compare towns
Shirley vs Killingly vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shirley has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k 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 | Shirley | Killingly | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,976Lowest |
17,867Highest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shirley and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shirley and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,365±$16k 52% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,600±$36k 29% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
| Shirley and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,156 65% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton and Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.