Compare towns
Ashford vs Killingly vs Prospect vs Salem
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 most people working from home (19.3%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Prospect has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($404k 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.
| Measure | Ashford | Killingly | Prospect | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226Lowest |
17,867Highest |
9,458 |
4,282 |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
46.8±3.9Highest 14% above CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
| Prospect 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 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect 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% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| 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 27% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$126,394±$18kHighest 32% above CT |
$123,245±$8k 29% above CT |
| Prospect and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
| Salem and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,440±$150 3% below CT |
| Prospect and Salem 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 |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,504 about the CT average |
$6,668 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Ashford and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
| 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #50 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 16 | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.