Compare towns
Ashford vs Windsor vs Plainfield vs Franklin
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%).
Windsor has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% 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 | Windsor | Plainfield | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
29,468Highest |
15,141 |
2,004Lowest |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
43.7±1.9Highest 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
| Windsor and Franklin 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% |
19.2%±2.1 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Plainfield 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% |
20%±2Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Windsor 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% |
43.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor and Plainfield 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 |
$104,725±$8k 9% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
| Ashford and Franklin 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 |
$305,200±$11k 17% below CT |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
| Ashford and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,681±$62Highest 13% above CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$5,351 19% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Ashford and Windsor 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% |
6.7% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% CT: 66.5% |
82.4% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Windsor 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Ashford School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Plainfield School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windsor High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.2Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.