Compare towns
Ashford vs Washington vs Union
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 youngest population (median age 37.9).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,226Highest |
3,676 |
944Lowest |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Washington 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Union 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% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Washington 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 27% above CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% below CT |
| Ashford and Washington 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 |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$330,400±$26kLowest 10% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
$1,204±$264Lowest 19% below CT |
— |
| Ashford and Washington 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 |
$4,793 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| 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 CT: 10% |
9%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Ashford School District | Regional School District 12 | Union School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1 |
— |
| 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.