Compare towns
Thomaston vs Killingly vs Brookfield vs Ashford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thomaston has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Thomaston | Killingly | Brookfield | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,492 |
17,867Highest |
17,706 |
4,226Lowest |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
44.3±1.8Highest 8% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
| Brookfield and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Killingly and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Thomaston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$121,926±$23k 27% above CT |
| Brookfield and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,600±$23kLowest 23% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$479,700±$24kHighest 31% above CT |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,915 11% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$7,594Highest 14% above CT |
$6,982 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1Lowest 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 | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 5% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Brookfield 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #67 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thomaston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Brookfield School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | Killingly High School | Brookfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.1 |
12.7Highest |
— |
| 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.