Compare towns
Grafton vs Killingly vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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.
| Measure | Grafton | Killingly | Lancaster | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,902Highest |
17,867 |
8,606Lowest |
18,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%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 |
43.1±4.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.1±1.4 8% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Ashland 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% |
19.2%±4 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%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Killingly 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% |
50.3% 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% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 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±$11k 63% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$127,539±$11k 58% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Grafton 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. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above 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. |
$2,338±$539 65% above U.S. |
$2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,117 128% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% 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% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Ashland 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 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. |
32 min 20% 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% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Ashland 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Grafton | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Nashoba | Ashland |
| High school in town | Grafton High School | Killingly High School | None in town | 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 | 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.