Compare towns
Ashford vs Franklin vs Windsor Locks 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 people working from home (19.3%).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($404k 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 | Windsor Locks | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
2,004Lowest |
12,579Highest |
4,282 |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
41.4±2.6Highest about the CT average |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
| Windsor Locks and Salem 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% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin 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% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 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% CT: 42.5% |
27.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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±$23k 27% above CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
| Salem 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 |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
| Salem and Windsor Locks 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 |
$3,934 41% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$6,668 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks 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 CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.1% CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Salem 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 | — | #109 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Franklin School District | Windsor Locks School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.