Compare towns

Chaplin vs Killingly vs Thomaston vs Ashford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).

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.

MeasureChaplinKillinglyThomastonAshford
People
Population
2,070Lowest
17,867Highest
7,492
4,226
Median age
43.7±4.8Highest
6% above CT
39.5±3
4% below CT
41.5±7.7
about the CT average
37.9±10.3Lowest
8% below CT
Chaplin and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.7%±4.2Lowest
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
20.5%±5.2Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.5%±5.5
CT: 20.2%
Thomaston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.9%±4.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
18.6%±3.6Lowest
CT: 18.5%
18.9%±3.7
CT: 18.5%
Chaplin and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.4%
CT: 42.5%
22.9%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
34%
CT: 42.5%
35.3%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.1%±6.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
5.5%±2.1
CT: 7.1%
4.4%±1.7Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Chaplin and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,846±$14k
about the CT average
$84,350±$8kLowest
12% below CT
$103,218±$15k
8% above CT
$121,926±$23kHighest
27% above 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
$255,200±$24kLowest
30% below CT
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$282,600±$23k
23% below CT
$334,800±$18kHighest
9% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,473±$275Highest
about the CT average
$1,044±$141
30% below CT
$1,037±$147Lowest
30% below CT
$1,246±$208
16% below CT
Chaplin and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,524
32% below CT
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$5,915
11% below CT
$6,982Highest
5% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.6%±27.7Lowest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
57.9%±22Highest
CT: 52.6%
47%±26
CT: 52.6%
Thomaston and Ashford 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%Highest
CT: 10%
2.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
5.4%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
77.7%
CT: 66.5%
76.8%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
12 yrs newer than CT
1968
1 yr newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1982Highest
15 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
22% above CT
28 min
5% above CT
27 minLowest
about the CT average
34 minHighest
30% above CT
Work from home
18.1%±10
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
7.6%±3.7Lowest
CT: 16%
19.3%±5.5Highest
CT: 16%
Ashford and Chaplin 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 — #136 of 149 in CT #106 of 149 in CT #90 of 149 in CT
School district Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Thomaston School District Ashford School District
High school in town Parish Hill High School Killingly High School Thomaston High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
7.5Lowest
11.1Highest
10.7
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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.