Compare towns
Ashford vs Washington 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 affordable homes ($335k median).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
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 | Washington | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,226 |
3,676Lowest |
4,282Highest |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
| Washington and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Washington 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
50.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Washington and Salem 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 |
$101,549±$16kLowest 6% above CT |
$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±$18kLowest 9% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$403,600±$33k 10% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,204±$264Lowest 19% 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 |
$4,709Lowest 29% below CT |
$6,668 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Ashford and Salem 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% |
9%Highest CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Lowest CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Regional School District 12 | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1 |
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| 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.