Compare towns
Ashford vs Windsor Locks vs Plainfield vs Salem
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 Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Plainfield has the most renters (26.4% 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 | Windsor Locks | Plainfield | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226Lowest |
12,579 |
15,141Highest |
4,282 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
41.4±2.6Highest about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
| Windsor Locks and Salem 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% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem 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% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23k 27% above CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
| 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 9% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
| Salem and Windsor Locks 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 |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$6,668 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
32 min 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
| 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | — | Plainfield School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
— |
| 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.