Compare towns
Ashford vs Ellington 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 most affordable homes ($335k median).
Ellington has the most renters (27.8% rent).
Salem has the most homeowners (86.6%).
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 | Ellington | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,226Lowest |
16,455Highest |
4,282 |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
40.9±2.4Highest about the CT average |
40.9±5.4Highest about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Salem 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% |
18.8%±2.8Lowest 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
50.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Ellington 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±$23kLowest 27% above CT |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$123,245±$8k 29% above CT |
| Ellington and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18kLowest 9% below CT |
$366,900±$17k about the CT average |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
| Salem and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Lowest 16% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,440±$150 3% below CT |
| Ellington and Salem 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 |
$6,751 about the CT average |
$6,668Lowest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Ashford and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% CT: 66.5% |
72.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1982Lowest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
31 minLowest 18% above CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9 CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Ellington 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 | #46 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Ellington School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ellington High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| 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.