Compare towns
Ashford vs Suffield vs Franklin 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 renters (23.2% rent).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Suffield | Franklin | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
15,702Highest |
2,004 |
944Lowest |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
| Union and Suffield 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% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Ashford 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Union 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% CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Union 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 |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% below CT |
| Ashford and Suffield 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 |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% 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 |
$4,793 28% below CT |
| 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% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Union 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%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
84.1% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%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 |
1976 9 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 |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7 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 | — | — |
| School district | Ashford School District | Suffield School District | Franklin School District | Union School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | None in town | 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.