Compare towns

Ashford vs Killingly vs Upton vs Thomaston

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 most renters (28.4% rent).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (27 min average).

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.

MeasureAshfordKillinglyUptonThomaston
People
Population
4,226Lowest
17,867Highest
8,189
7,492
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
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
41.5±7.7
7% above U.S.
Upton and Thomaston 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%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
Upton 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
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Upton 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34%
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%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.5%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Thomaston 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±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$103,218±$15k
28% 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.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$282,600±$23kLowest
15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,246±$208Highest
12% below U.S.
$1,044±$141
26% below U.S.
$948±$599Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,037±$147
27% below U.S.
Ashford and Killingly 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.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$5,915
90% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47%±26
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
57.9%±22Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thomaston and Upton 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%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
30% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
19.3%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.6%±3.7Lowest
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 #46 of 282 in MA #106 of 149 in CT
School district Ashford School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Thomaston School District
High school in town None in town Killingly High School Blackstone Valley Thomaston High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1
11.2Highest
10.7Lowest
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.