Compare towns
Union vs Killingly vs Mansfield vs Ashford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Union | Killingly | Mansfield | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
17,867 |
25,358Highest |
4,226 |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
| Ashford and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
| Mansfield and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793 28% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6 CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | E. O. Smith High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.8Highest |
— |
| 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.