Compare towns
Ashford vs Suffield vs Franklin vs Somers
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).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Somers has the highest household income ($125k).
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 | Suffield | Franklin | Somers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
15,702Highest |
2,004Lowest |
10,308 |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
43.1±2.6 5% above CT |
| Suffield and Somers 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
21.1%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Somers 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% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Somers 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% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
27.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
37.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23k 27% above CT |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$105,000±$10kLowest 10% above CT |
$124,705±$15kHighest 30% above CT |
| Somers 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 |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$326,200±$20kLowest 11% below CT |
$395,800±$21k 8% above CT |
| Suffield and Somers 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 |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,184±$346 20% below CT |
| Suffield 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 |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,456 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51.6%±13.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Somers and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
84.1% CT: 66.5% |
87.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1973Lowest 6 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
28 min 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
16.2%±4.6 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | — | #66 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Suffield School District | Franklin School District | Somers School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | None in town | Somers High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
| 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.