Compare towns
Ashland vs Killingly vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Grafton has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Ashland | Killingly | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,873 |
17,867Lowest |
19,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4Highest 8% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.1±1.6 6% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Grafton 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%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest 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% |
55.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,539±$11k 58% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$131,484±$11kHighest 63% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$525,300±$37k 58% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,504±$169 6% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444Highest 139% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,117 128% 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% |
45.1%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashland and Grafton 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashland and Grafton 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 | #42 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Grafton |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Killingly High School | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
11.1Lowest |
12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.