Compare towns
Ashford vs Hampton vs Willimantic vs Thomaston
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 expensive homes ($335k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Willimantic | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
1,647Lowest |
18,096Highest |
7,492 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
41.5±7.7 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% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
| Ashford and Hampton 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 |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
| Ashford and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,285±$288Highest 14% below CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
| 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 5% above CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$5,915 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Willimantic 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Hampton 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 |
| School district | Ashford School District | Hampton School District | — | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Thomaston High School |
| 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.