Compare towns
Ashford vs Griswold vs Sterling
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%).
Griswold has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Griswold | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,226 |
11,530Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
48.1±3.9Highest 17% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Griswold 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 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±3.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.8%±3.5 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Ashford and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.9% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Ashford and Sterling 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 27% above CT |
$78,719±$11kLowest 18% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Ashford and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
$275,900±$42kLowest 25% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
$1,177±$65Lowest 21% below CT |
— |
| Ashford and Griswold 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 |
$4,628 30% below CT |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
57.5%±15.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Griswold 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% |
7.6% CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% CT: 66.5% |
73.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1977Lowest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above CT |
31 minLowest 17% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.6Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Sterling 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 | #118 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Griswold School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Griswold High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| 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.