Compare towns

Grafton vs Killingly vs Ashland

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Grafton has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Ashland has the most expensive homes ($612k 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.

MeasureGraftonKillinglyAshland
People
Population
19,902Highest
17,867Lowest
18,873
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+13.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.1±1.6
6% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
42.1±1.4Highest
8% 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
22.5%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
18.4%±2.2Lowest
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+
15.5%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.2
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+
55.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
60.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±1.2Lowest
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
$131,484±$11kHighest
63% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$127,539±$11k
58% 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
$525,300±$37k
58% above U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$611,700±$18kHighest
84% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,504±$169
6% above U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,452±$298Highest
74% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,117
128% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$7,444Highest
139% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.1%±12.5
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.2%±14.2Highest
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
6.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
25% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
37 minHighest
39% above U.S.
Work from home
22.4%±2.6
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±3.3Highest
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 #67 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #42 of 282 in MA
School district Grafton Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Ashland
High school in town Grafton High School Killingly High School Ashland High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9
11.1Lowest
14.0Highest
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.