Compare towns
Ashford vs Upton 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 youngest population (median age 37.9).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Upton | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,226Lowest |
8,189Highest |
7,492 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
| Upton and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thomaston 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 51% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Upton 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 about the U.S. average |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$282,600±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Highest 12% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,037±$147 27% below U.S. |
| Ashford and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982 124% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,915Lowest 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thomaston and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Ashford 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.