Compare towns

Ashford vs Killingly vs Plainville vs Upton

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).
Killingly has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).

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.

MeasureAshfordKillinglyPlainvilleUpton
People
Population
4,226Lowest
17,867Highest
17,551
8,189
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — — —
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.9±10.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
44.3±1.5
14% above U.S.
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
Upton and Plainville 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%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Killingly 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%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Upton and Plainville 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%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
30%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainville 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.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$84,343±$7kLowest
4% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
Upton 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
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$254,000±$14kLowest
24% below U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,246±$208Highest
12% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$1,126±$147
20% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
Ashford and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,982
124% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,798
54% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47%±26
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±12.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Upton 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%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
30% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton 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 #89 of 149 in CT #46 of 282 in MA
School district Ashford School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Judicial Centers · Plainville School District Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town None in town Killingly High School Plainville High School Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Lowest
11.4Highest
11.2
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.