Compare towns
Sterling vs Smithfield vs Windsor Locks 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 kids (22.8% under 18).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 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 | Smithfield | Windsor Locks | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
22,233Highest |
12,579 |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
41.8±2.6Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Smithfield and Windsor Locks 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% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Windsor Locks 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% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$121,926±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| 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±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 46% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashford and Windsor Locks 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #109 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Smithfield | Windsor Locks School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Smithfield High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.