Compare towns
Canton vs Killingly vs Ashland vs Melrose
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Ashland has the most homeowners (75.3%).
Melrose has the most expensive homes ($823k 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 | Canton | Killingly | Ashland | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,748 |
17,867Lowest |
18,873 |
29,650Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.1±1.4 8% above U.S. |
43.6±1.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Melrose and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Melrose and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$127,539±$11k 58% above U.S. |
$133,953±$14k 66% above U.S. |
| Canton and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$611,700±$18k 84% above U.S. |
$822,900±$20kHighest 147% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,970±$149 39% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560 110% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,444 139% above U.S. |
$7,578Highest 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashland and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Melrose and Canton 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #42 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ashland | Melrose |
| High school in town | Canton High | Killingly High School | Ashland High | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
11.1Lowest |
14.0Highest |
12.8 |
| 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.