Compare towns
Ashford vs Glocester vs Union vs Salem
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 renters (23.2% rent).
Glocester has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Salem has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Glocester | Union | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
10,221Highest |
944Lowest |
4,282 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3 28% above U.S. |
40.9±5.4 5% above U.S. |
| Glocester and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Salem and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Glocester 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% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Union 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. |
$113,508±$7k 41% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$123,245±$8kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$396,500±$28k 19% above U.S. |
$330,400±$26kLowest about the U.S. average |
$403,600±$33kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Salem and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,417±$627 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,440±$150Highest about the U.S. average |
| Salem and Glocester 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. |
$5,248 68% above U.S. |
$4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,668 114% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Glocester 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #12 of 38 in RI | — | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Foster-Glocester · Glocester | Union School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ponaganset High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.