Compare towns
Ashford vs Windham vs Woonsocket vs Salem
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 most people working from home (19.3%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($404k median).
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 | Windham | Woonsocket | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226Lowest |
23,961 |
43,521Highest |
4,282 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3 about the U.S. average |
33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below U.S. |
35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
40.9±5.4Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Salem 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Salem 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem 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% |
22.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
$123,245±$8kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| 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±$18k about the U.S. average |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$403,600±$33kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,440±$150Highest about the U.S. average |
| 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 124% above U.S. |
$4,633 49% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,668 114% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashford and Salem 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #37 of 38 in RI | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Woonsocket High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
15.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.