Compare towns
Ashford vs Cornwall vs Union 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).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Cornwall | Union | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
1,425 |
944Lowest |
7,492Highest |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
53.9±5.1Highest 31% above CT |
49.9±4.3 21% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
| Cornwall and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
14.9%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| 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 CT: 18.5% |
29.4%±2.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Cornwall and Union 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% |
59.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±3 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Thomaston 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 |
$128,864±$34kHighest 35% above CT |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% below CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
| Cornwall 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 |
$554,600±$106kHighest 51% above CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$282,600±$23kLowest 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
$1,047±$121 30% below CT |
— | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
| Ashford and Cornwall 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 |
$5,792 13% below CT |
$4,793Lowest 28% below CT |
$5,915 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
46.8%±31.9Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
| Union 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% |
8.2%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
87.3% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
30 min 13% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5 CT: 16% |
32.4%±13.6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Cornwall 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 | — | — | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Cornwall School District | Union School District | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.7 |
| 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.