Compare towns
Andover vs Ashford vs Barkhamsted
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Ashford has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
Barkhamsted has the most people working from home (20.3%).
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 | Andover | Ashford | Barkhamsted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,152Lowest |
4,226Highest |
3,678 |
| Median age | 51.2±5.4Highest 25% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
50.2±3.3 22% above CT |
| Andover and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Ashford and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±5.1 CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
27.2%±7.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Barkhamsted and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
54.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±2.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Andover and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,632±$20kHighest 41% above CT |
$121,926±$23kLowest 27% above CT |
$123,544±$9k 29% above CT |
| Andover and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,500±$36kHighest about the CT average |
$334,800±$18kLowest 9% below CT |
$368,000±$15k about the CT average |
| Andover and Barkhamsted are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$745 22% below CT |
$1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
$1,164±$114Lowest 22% below CT |
| Ashford and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the CT average |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$6,354Lowest 4% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.8%±38.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
28.8%±35.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Andover and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5 CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Barkhamsted 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 | #43 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT | #63 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Andover School District | Ashford School District | Barkhamsted School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.