Compare towns
Ashford vs Cumberland vs Killingly vs Salem
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 most people working from home (19.3%).
Cumberland has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Salem has the most homeowners (86.6%).
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 | Cumberland | Killingly | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226Lowest |
36,820Highest |
17,867 |
4,282 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.5±1.2Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
40.9±5.4 5% above U.S. |
| Cumberland and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Cumberland and Salem 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% |
18.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem 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. |
$117,522±$8k 46% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$123,245±$8kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Salem 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 |
$431,000±$15kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$403,600±$33k 21% above U.S. |
| Cumberland and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
$1,379±$109 about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,440±$150Highest about the U.S. average |
| Salem and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
$4,870 56% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,668 114% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cumberland 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% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashford and Salem 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 | #18 of 38 in RI | #136 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Cumberland High School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.