Compare towns
Ashford vs Preston 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 most people working from home (19.3%).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,226 |
4,821Highest |
944Lowest |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
| Union and Preston 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% |
18.7%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Preston and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Preston 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% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Union and Preston 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 |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% below 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 |
$330,400±$26kLowest 10% 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±$208Lowest 16% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% 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 |
$4,749Lowest 29% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Preston 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% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest 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 | Union 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.