Compare towns
Ashford vs Exeter vs Thomaston 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 most people working from home (19.3%).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Thomaston has the oldest population (median age 41.5).
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 | Exeter | Thomaston | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
7,195 |
7,492Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3 about the U.S. average |
37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
41.5±7.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Thomaston 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% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashford and Thomaston 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% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Thomaston 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. |
$111,250±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Ashford and Exeter 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 |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$282,600±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
$1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
— |
| Exeter 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. |
$5,881 89% above U.S. |
$5,915 90% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Thomaston 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% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashford and Exeter 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #106 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Exeter-West Greenwich | Thomaston School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Thomaston High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 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.