Compare towns
Ashford vs Woonsocket vs Franklin 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%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Woonsocket | Franklin | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
43,521Highest |
2,004Lowest |
4,282 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3 about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
40.3±4.3 4% above U.S. |
40.9±5.4Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Salem 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Woonsocket 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% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.9 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% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Woonsocket 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 51% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$105,000±$10k 30% above 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 |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
$403,600±$33kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$767±$529Lowest 46% 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. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
$3,934Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,668 114% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashford and Woonsocket 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±2.4 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | — | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Franklin School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Woonsocket High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.2 |
— | — |
| 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.