Compare towns
Ashford vs Lancaster vs Salem
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 most affordable homes ($335k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Salem has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Lancaster | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,226Lowest |
8,606Highest |
4,282 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.9±5.4 5% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Salem 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Salem and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem 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±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$123,245±$8k 53% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$403,600±$33k 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,440±$150 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982 124% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$6,668Lowest 114% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Ashford 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Nashoba | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.