Compare towns
Ashford vs Willimantic vs Sterling
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).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% 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 | Willimantic | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,226 |
18,096Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| 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 |
39.4±5.9Highest 4% below CT |
| Sterling and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Ashford and Sterling 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 CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| 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 9% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
— |
| Ashford and Willimantic 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 |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest 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% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| 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 | — | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | — | Sterling 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.