Compare towns
Ashford vs Hampton vs Woonsocket 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 highest household income ($122k).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Woonsocket | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
1,647Lowest |
43,521Highest |
7,492 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3 about the U.S. average |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest 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% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thomaston and Woonsocket 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 51% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$282,600±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Ashford and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% 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. |
$4,364 40% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,915 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest 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. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #37 of 38 in RI | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Hampton School District | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Woonsocket High School | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 15.2Highest |
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.