Compare towns
Ashford vs Salem vs Suffield vs Sterling
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 renters (23.2% rent).
Salem has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Sterling 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 | Salem | Suffield | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
4,282 |
15,702Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Suffield and Salem 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% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Sterling 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% |
19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Salem 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% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Salem 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±$23k 27% above CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$102,695±$12kLowest 7% above CT |
| Salem and Ashford 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 |
$403,600±$33k 10% above CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
| Suffield and Salem 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 |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
— |
| Salem and Suffield 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 |
$6,668 about the CT average |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield 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% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1979Lowest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Suffield 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Salem School District | Suffield School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Suffield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9 |
— |
| 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.