Compare towns
Ashford vs Chaplin vs Killingly vs Thomaston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (27 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.
| Measure | Ashford | Chaplin | Killingly | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
2,070Lowest |
17,867Highest |
7,492 |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
| Ashford and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
| Chaplin and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,915 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Chaplin 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 | #106 of 149 in CT |
| 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 | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Killingly High School | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
11.1Highest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.