Compare towns
Ashford vs Willimantic vs Eastford
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 people working from home (19.3%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Eastford has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Willimantic | Eastford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,226 |
18,096Highest |
1,679Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
48.3±5.9Highest 18% above CT |
| Eastford and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Eastford 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% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$97,422±$20k about the CT average |
| Ashford and Eastford 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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$355,500±$16kHighest 3% below CT |
| Eastford and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,097±$173 26% below CT |
| Ashford and Eastford 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 |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,493Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±32.6Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1981 14 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
35 minHighest 33% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
14.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Eastford 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 | — | — |
| School district | Ashford School District | — | Eastford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.