Compare towns
Ashford vs Union vs Woonsocket vs Sterling
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).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Sterling 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 | Woonsocket | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
944Lowest |
43,521Highest |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3 about the U.S. average |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Sterling 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% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest 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% |
19.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket and Union 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. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Ashford and Sterling 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 |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Ashford and Union 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. |
— | $1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
— |
| Ashford and Woonsocket 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. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashford and Sterling 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 | — | #37 of 38 in RI | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Union School District | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Woonsocket High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 15.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.