Compare towns
Ashford vs Salem vs Windham 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%).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($404k median).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
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 | Salem | Windham | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
4,282 |
23,961Highest |
944Lowest |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
| Union 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% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Windham 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%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Salem 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% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23k 27% above CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% below 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±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
— |
| Salem 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 |
$6,668 about the CT average |
$4,633Lowest 30% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7 CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Salem 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Ashford School District | Salem School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Union School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.