Compare towns
Willington vs Ayer vs Crystal Lake
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Willington has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Ayer has the most expensive homes ($464k median).
Crystal Lake has the highest household income ($144k).
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 | Willington | Ayer | Crystal Lake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,575 |
8,645Highest |
2,024Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±7.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
48.9±7.6Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Crystal Lake and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
24.5%±7.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Crystal Lake and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Willington and Crystal Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,114±$12kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$143,882±$29kHighest 78% above U.S. |
| Crystal Lake and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,800±$48kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$361,800±$35k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,357±$116Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Ayer and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,419 74% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$7,146Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 70%±20.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±93.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Willington and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Crystal Lake 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 | #104 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Willington School District | Ayer Shirley School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 6 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.