Compare towns
Ashford vs Hampton vs Thomaston 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 youngest population (median age 37.9).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Hampton | Thomaston | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
1,647Lowest |
7,492Highest |
4,282 |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
| Hampton and Thomaston 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% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Thomaston 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Salem 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% |
29.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Salem and Thomaston 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 |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$103,218±$15kLowest 8% above 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 |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$282,600±$23kLowest 23% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
| Salem and Hampton 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 |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$5,915 11% below CT |
$6,668 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| 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% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1980 13 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 |
29 min 9% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 min 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | #106 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Hampton School District | Thomaston School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Thomaston High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.