Compare towns
Willington vs Killingly vs Crystal Lake vs Ashford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Willington has the most renters (36% rent).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Crystal Lake has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Willington | Killingly | Crystal Lake | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,575 |
17,867Highest |
2,024Lowest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +10.6% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37.5±7.2Lowest 9% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
48.9±7.6Highest 19% above CT |
37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
| Crystal Lake and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±4.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
24.5%±7.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Crystal Lake and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±6.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.6%±6.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
6.3%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Willington and Crystal Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,114±$12k 5% below CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$143,882±$29kHighest 50% above CT |
$121,926±$23k 27% above CT |
| Crystal Lake and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,800±$48k 17% below CT |
$288,600±$15kLowest 21% below CT |
$361,800±$35kHighest about the CT average |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
| Crystal Lake and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,357±$116Highest 9% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— | $1,246±$208 16% below CT |
| Willington and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,419 18% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$7,146Highest 8% above CT |
$6,982 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 70%±20.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
0%±93.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Willington and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
1.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
91.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 5% above CT |
39 minHighest 47% above CT |
34 min 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
17.5%±10 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Crystal Lake 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 | #104 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | — | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Willington School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.