Compare towns
Ashford vs Thompson 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 renters (23.2% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Thompson | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,226Lowest |
9,337Highest |
4,282 |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average |
$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±$18k 9% below CT |
$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% 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 |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,668 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Ashford 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% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
6.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
32 minLowest 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Thompson School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9 |
— |
| 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.