Compare towns
Ashford vs Chaplin vs Killingly vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashford has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Ashford | Chaplin | Killingly | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
2,070Lowest |
17,867Highest |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Chaplin and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982 124% above U.S. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Ashford 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 | #90 of 149 in CT | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashford School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.