Compare towns
Sterling vs Sutton vs Hampton 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).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Sutton | Hampton | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
9,452Highest |
1,647Lowest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hampton and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Hampton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashford and Sutton 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. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
| Hampton 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. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Sutton 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% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | — | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Sutton | Hampton School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| 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.