Compare towns
Ashford vs Chaplin vs Smithfield vs Thomaston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Chaplin | Smithfield | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
2,070Lowest |
22,233Highest |
7,492 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
| Chaplin and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Thomaston 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Smithfield and Chaplin 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 51% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
| Ashford and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$282,600±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,037±$147 27% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
$5,915 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thomaston and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashford and Chaplin 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 | — | #8 of 38 in RI | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Smithfield | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Smithfield High School | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
11.8Highest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.