Compare towns
Coventry vs Ashford vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Coventry has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Ashford has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
Columbia has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
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 | Coventry | Ashford | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,326Highest |
4,226Lowest |
5,300 |
| Median age | 45.4±3.8 10% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
| Columbia and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Coventry and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3.3 CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Columbia and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,213±$5kLowest 13% above CT |
$121,926±$23k 27% above CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,000±$23kLowest 10% below CT |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Columbia and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$330 17% below CT |
$1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
| Ashford and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,284 20% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$5,228Lowest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±23.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Coventry and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 1 yr older than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.6%±4.6Lowest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Ashford 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 | #41 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Coventry School District | Ashford School District | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | Coventry High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.