Compare towns
Ashford vs Brooklyn vs Windsor Locks vs Salem
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 youngest population (median age 37.9).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($404k median).
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 | Brooklyn | Windsor Locks | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226Lowest |
8,517 |
12,579Highest |
4,282 |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
| Brooklyn and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Brooklyn 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% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Salem 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% |
23.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Salem 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 |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
| Salem and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
| Salem and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$6,668 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Salem 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 | #113 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Brooklyn School District | Windsor Locks School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.