Compare towns
Ashford vs Dedham vs Sterling
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 youngest population (median age 37.9).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% 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 | Dedham | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,226 |
25,237Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Dedham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham 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±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Dedham 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 about the U.S. average |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982 124% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Dedham | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.