Compare towns
Sterling vs Ashford vs Voluntown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Sterling | Ashford | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629 |
4,226Highest |
2,604Lowest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
48.3±1.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3 CT: 18.5% |
| Ashford and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Ashford and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$101,964±$25kLowest 6% above CT |
| Ashford and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
$356,100±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Voluntown and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
$1,166±$191Lowest 22% below CT |
| Ashford and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$4,955 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Ashford and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1982Lowest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1983 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
34 min 30% above CT |
31 minLowest 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Sterling 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Ashford School District | Voluntown 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.