Compare towns
Ashford vs Union vs Webster vs Thomaston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
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 | Union | Webster | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
944Lowest |
12,228Highest |
7,492 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3 about the U.S. average |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
| Union 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Thomaston 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 51% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$63,837±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$333,100±$14k about the U.S. average |
$282,600±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Ashford and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Highest 12% below U.S. |
— | $1,198±$85 15% below U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Ashford and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$5,915 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #90 of 149 in CT | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Union School District | — | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
U.S. 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.