Compare towns
Killingly vs Salem vs Ashford vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($404k median).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Killingly | Salem | Ashford | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
4,282 |
4,226Lowest |
15,141 |
| Median age | 39.5±3 4% below CT |
40.9±5.4Highest about the CT average |
37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Salem and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Salem and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$121,926±$23k 27% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Salem and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
| Salem and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,668 about the CT average |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Ashford and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Salem 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Salem School District | Ashford School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | — | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.