What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashland has the most expensive homes ($612k median).

Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ashland	Killingly
People
Population	18,873Highest	17,867Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.1±1.4Highest 8% above U.S.	39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average
	Ashland and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Killingly and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Killingly and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Killingly and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$127,539±$11kHighest 58% above U.S.	$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$611,700±$18kHighest 84% above U.S.	$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S.	$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,444Highest 139% above U.S.	$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.2%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ashland and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 39% above U.S.	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.
Work from home	22.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#42 of 282 in MA	#136 of 149 in CT
School district	Ashland	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS
High school in town	Ashland High	Killingly High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.