Compare towns
Sterling vs Torrington 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).
Torrington has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Torrington | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
35,547Highest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.4% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
42.9±1.8Highest 4% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
| Torrington 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% |
17.9%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 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% |
19.2%±1.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Torrington 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% |
24.8% CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.7%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Torrington 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±$12k 7% above CT |
$70,856±$5kLowest 26% below CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% 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±$17k 23% below CT |
$215,500±$8kLowest 41% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,169±$43Lowest 21% below CT |
$1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
| Ashford and Torrington 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 |
$5,042 24% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48%±6.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Torrington and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
13.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
66.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
34 min 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
9%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest 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 | #132 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Torrington High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.