Compare towns
Thomaston vs Killingly vs Canton 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).
Canton has the most people working from home (24.8%).
Ashford has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
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 | Canton | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,492 |
17,867Highest |
10,144 |
4,226Lowest |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
45.3±5.2Highest 10% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
| Canton 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% |
22.6%±4Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Canton 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%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Canton and Killingly 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% |
57.2%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% |
2.9%±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 |
$117,991±$20k 23% above CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
| Ashford and Canton 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 |
$395,300±$24kHighest 8% above CT |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% below CT |
$1,403±$358Highest 6% below CT |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
| Canton and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,915 11% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$7,232Highest 9% above CT |
$6,982 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
59.9%±28.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Canton and Thomaston 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% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.7%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 |
1976 9 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 |
29 min 9% above CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5 CT: 16% |
| Canton and Ashford 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 | #22 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 | Canton School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | Killingly High School | Canton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
11.1Highest |
9.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.