Compare towns
Shirley vs Killingly vs Groton 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
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).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% 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 | Shirley | Killingly | Groton | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,976Lowest |
17,867Highest |
11,390 |
8,645 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
41.4±2.7 6% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±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% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$101,875±$15k 26% 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. |
$463,800±$29k 39% 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. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$5,057 62% 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% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley and Ayer 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% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest 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. |
1977 3 yrs older 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. |
33 min 25% 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% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #39 of 282 in MA | #113 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 | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Groton Dunstable Regional | Ayer Shirley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
13.7Highest |
11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.