Compare towns
Ashford vs Franklin vs Willimantic vs Somers
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 people working from home (19.3%).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Somers has the most expensive homes ($396k 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 | Franklin | Willimantic | Somers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
2,004Lowest |
18,096Highest |
10,308 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
43.1±2.6Highest 5% above CT |
| Somers and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Somers 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% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Somers 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% CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
37.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23k 27% above CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$124,705±$15kHighest 30% above CT |
| Somers 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 |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$395,800±$21kHighest 8% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,184±$346 20% below CT |
| Ashford and Somers 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 |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
51.6%±13.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Somers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% CT: 66.5% |
84.1% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
87.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
16.2%±4.6 CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Somers 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 | — | — | #66 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Franklin School District | — | Somers School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Somers High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.7 |
| 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.