Compare towns
Ashford vs Killingly vs Thomaston vs Willimantic
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%).
Thomaston has the oldest population (median age 41.5).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Thomaston | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226Lowest |
17,867 |
7,492 |
18,096Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
41.5±7.7Highest about the CT average |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
| Thomaston and Killingly 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% |
20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Thomaston 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Ashford 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% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below 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 |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
| Ashford and Willimantic 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 |
$5,915 11% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Willimantic 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% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
77.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
| 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 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Thomaston School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Thomaston High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.