Compare towns
Thomaston vs Danielson vs Plainfield vs Ashford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thomaston has the oldest population (median age 41.5).
Danielson has the most renters (47% rent).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 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 | Thomaston | Danielson | Plainfield | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,492 |
4,209Lowest |
15,141Highest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7Highest about the CT average |
34.5±3.6Lowest 16% below CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
| Thomaston and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±6.1 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Ashford and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% CT: 42.5% |
11.5%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
15% CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
9.2%±6.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Danielson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$64,050±$15kLowest 33% below CT |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
| Ashford and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$224,600±$13kLowest 39% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,235±$194 17% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
| Ashford and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,915 11% below CT |
$4,009Lowest 40% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.7%±17.1 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.1%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1951Lowest 16 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 min 7% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7 CT: 16% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Plainfield 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thomaston School District | — | Plainfield School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | — | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.