Compare towns

Sterling vs Williamsburg 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).
Williamsburg has the most people working from home (26.5%).
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.

MeasureSterlingWilliamsburgAshford
People
Population
3,629
2,694Lowest
4,226Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+0.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.4±5.9
about the U.S. average
50±2.4Highest
29% above U.S.
37.9±10.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
22.8%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±4
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±5.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Sterling and Williamsburg 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%
22.7%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.9%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Williamsburg 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%
60.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Williamsburg 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.
$104,792±$21k
30% above U.S.
$121,926±$23kHighest
51% above U.S.
Ashford and Williamsburg 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.
$403,100±$37kHighest
21% above U.S.
$334,800±$18k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,420±$228Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,246±$208Lowest
12% below U.S.
Williamsburg and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,551Lowest
46% above U.S.
$5,761
85% above U.S.
$6,982Highest
124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
61%±28Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47%±26
U.S.: 51.1%
Williamsburg 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%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
76.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 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 minLowest
4% below U.S.
34 min
30% above U.S.
Work from home
11.6%±6.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.5%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Williamsburg 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 — #90 of 149 in CT
School district Sterling School District Williamsburg Ashford School District
High school in town None 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.