Compare towns
Sterling vs Dover vs Ashford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Ashford has the most renters (23.2% rent).
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 | Dover | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629 |
2,308Lowest |
4,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dover 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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 27% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,982 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 149 in CT | #1 of 282 in MA | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | — | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.