Compare towns
Lancaster vs Killingly vs Ashford vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Ashford has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
Bolton has the most expensive homes ($796k 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 | Lancaster | Killingly | Ashford | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
17,867Highest |
4,226Lowest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.2±1.7 6% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bolton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest 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+ | 50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$205,449±$31kHighest 154% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
$796,000±$49kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
$1,583±$1k 12% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,982 124% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bolton and Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ashford School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| 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.