Compare towns
Ashford vs Canton vs Thomaston
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).
Canton has the most people working from home (24.8%).
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k 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 | Canton | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,226Lowest |
10,144Highest |
7,492 |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
45.3±5.2Highest 10% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
| Canton and Thomaston 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% |
22.6%±4Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Canton and Thomaston 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% |
23.5%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Canton 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% |
57.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Thomaston and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$117,991±$20k 23% above CT |
$103,218±$15kLowest 8% above CT |
| Ashford and Canton 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 |
$395,300±$24kHighest 8% above CT |
$282,600±$23kLowest 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,403±$358Highest 6% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
| Canton and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982 5% above CT |
$7,232Highest 9% above CT |
$5,915Lowest 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
59.9%±28.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
| Canton and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5 CT: 16% |
24.8%±6.1Highest CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Canton 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 | #90 of 149 in CT | #22 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Canton School District | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Canton High School | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| 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.