Compare towns
Ashford vs Bethany vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Ashford | Bethany | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,226 |
5,288Highest |
944Lowest |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Bethany and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3% CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23k 27% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$330,400±$26kLowest 10% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 16% below CT |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982 5% above CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$4,793Lowest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
32 minLowest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Bethany 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 | #90 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Ashford School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Union 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.