Compare towns
Ashford vs Hampton vs Sutton vs Thomaston
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 youngest population (median age 37.9).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Hampton | Sutton | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
1,647Lowest |
9,452Highest |
7,492 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Sutton 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%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Thomaston and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thomaston and Ashford 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. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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 |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$282,600±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Hampton 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. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$5,915 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thomaston and Hampton 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Ashford 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Hampton School District | Sutton | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.