Compare towns
Ashford vs Middlefield 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 people working from home (19.3%).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
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 | Middlefield | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,226Lowest |
4,243 |
7,492Highest |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Ashford 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% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield 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% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Thomaston 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 27% above CT |
$99,837±$20kLowest 4% above CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
| Ashford and Thomaston 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 |
$376,000±$27kHighest about the CT average |
$282,600±$23kLowest 23% below CT |
| Middlefield 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 |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
$5,915Lowest 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Middlefield 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Regional School District 13 | 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 |
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.