Compare towns
Salem vs Ashford vs Colchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most homeowners (86.6%).
Ashford has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Colchester has the oldest population (median age 43.5).
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 | Salem | Ashford | Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,282 |
4,226Lowest |
15,648Highest |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
43.5±3.8Highest 6% above CT |
| Colchester and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.7%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.3%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Colchester and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
49.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.6%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Salem and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$121,926±$23kLowest 27% above CT |
$122,390±$14k 28% above CT |
| Salem and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$334,800±$18kLowest 9% below CT |
$366,800±$16k about the CT average |
| Salem and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,440±$150 3% below CT |
$1,246±$208Lowest 16% below CT |
$1,474±$153Highest about the CT average |
| Colchester and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,668 about the CT average |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$6,212Lowest 6% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.4%±10.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Ashford and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
76.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1982Lowest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1984 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
30 minLowest 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6Lowest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.8 CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Colchester 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT | #64 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Ashford School District | Colchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bacon Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.