Compare towns
Ashford vs Thomaston vs Windham vs Chaplin
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 expensive homes ($335k median).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Chaplin has the most homeowners (82.9%).
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 | Thomaston | Windham | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
7,492 |
23,961Highest |
2,070Lowest |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
| Chaplin and Thomaston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Windham and Chaplin 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 |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
| Ashford and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
| Chaplin 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 |
$5,915 11% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Chaplin 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Ashford School District | Thomaston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | Thomaston High School | Windham High School | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
9.8 |
7.5Lowest |
| 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.