Compare towns
Sterling vs Cromwell vs Ashford
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).
Cromwell has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Cromwell | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
14,334Highest |
4,226 |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
43.5±2.5Highest 6% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
| Cromwell and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.1%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Cromwell 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% |
22%±3.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Cromwell and Ashford 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% |
49.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cromwell and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12kLowest 7% above CT |
$110,596±$10k 15% above CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
| Ashford and Cromwell 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 |
$325,200±$22k 11% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
| Ashford and Cromwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,628±$154Highest 9% above CT |
$1,246±$208Lowest 16% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$6,137 8% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
61%±11.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Cromwell and Ashford 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% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
82.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
24 minLowest 11% below CT |
34 min 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Cromwell 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 | #69 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Cromwell School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Cromwell High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.