Compare towns
Sterling vs Windham vs Union 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).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Windham | Union | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
23,961Highest |
944Lowest |
4,226 |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Windham 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% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Union 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% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% 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 |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
| Ashford and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
— | $1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
| Ashford and Windham 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 |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
34 min 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | — | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Union School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.