Compare towns
Ashford vs Mansfield vs Willimantic vs Franklin
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%).
Willimantic has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Willimantic | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
25,358Highest |
18,096 |
2,004Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
31.3±2.7 24% below CT |
40.3±4.3Highest about the CT average |
| Franklin and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Ashford and Franklin 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% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
| Ashford and Franklin 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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$326,200±$20k 11% 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±$208 16% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% CT: 66.5% |
57.3% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4 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 | — | Franklin 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 | 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.