Compare towns
Ashford vs Suffield vs Salem
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 affordable homes ($335k median).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Salem has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,226Lowest |
15,702Highest |
4,282 |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
| 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem 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%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7Highest 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3Highest 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 |
$119,472±$13kLowest 25% above CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% 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±$18kLowest 9% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$403,600±$33k 10% above 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 |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% 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 |
$6,456Lowest about the CT average |
$6,668 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest 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% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1979Lowest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Lowest 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 | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Suffield School District | Salem School District |
| High school 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 |
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.