Compare towns
Ashford vs Preston 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 most people working from home (19.3%).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% 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 | Preston | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,226 |
4,821Highest |
2,004Lowest |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
| Preston and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Preston 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% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
27.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Preston 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±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
$105,000±$10kLowest 10% above CT |
| Ashford and Preston 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 |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$326,200±$20kLowest 11% below CT |
| Preston 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 |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
| Preston and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Preston 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Ashford School District | Preston School District | Franklin 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 |
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.