Compare towns
Ashford vs Killingly vs Putnam 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%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Putnam | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226Lowest |
17,867Highest |
9,292 |
4,282 |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
| Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem 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% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest 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% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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±$8k 12% below CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
| 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 9% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
| Salem 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 |
$3,922 41% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$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% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Ashford and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #128 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 | Putnam School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.