Compare towns
Salem vs Ashford vs Marlborough
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 shortest commute (32 min average).
Ashford has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Marlborough has the most people working from home (33.2%).
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 | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,282 |
4,226Lowest |
6,130Highest |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
41.8±4.7Highest about the CT average |
| Marlborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±5.1 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.6%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Marlborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.3%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
45.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Salem and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,245±$8k 29% above CT |
$121,926±$23kLowest 27% above CT |
$142,105±$35kHighest 48% above CT |
| Marlborough and Salem 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 |
$379,100±$33k 3% above CT |
| Salem and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,246±$208Lowest 16% below CT |
$1,333±$438 10% below CT |
| Salem and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,668Lowest about the CT average |
$6,982 5% above CT |
$7,397Highest 11% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
59.2%±36Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Marlborough and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% CT: 66.5% |
76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1977Lowest 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 19% above CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6Lowest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5 CT: 16% |
33.2%±8.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Marlborough 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT | #52 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | Ashford School District | Marlborough School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.