Compare towns
Ashford vs Mansfield vs Union
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 highest household income ($122k).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,226 |
25,358Highest |
944Lowest |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
| Union and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Ashford and Union 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% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Ashford 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% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
| Ashford and Union 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 |
$335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
$330,400±$26kLowest 10% below CT |
| Mansfield and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Lowest 16% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$4,793Lowest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #90 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Ashford School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Union School District |
| High school in town | None in town | E. O. Smith High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.