Compare towns
Thomaston vs Durham 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 most affordable homes ($283k median).
Durham has the highest household income ($152k).
Ashford has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
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 | Durham | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,492Highest |
3,347Lowest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +28.6% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
47.9±5.4Highest 17% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
| Durham and Thomaston 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% |
15%±4.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.1%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Durham and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
42.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Thomaston and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,218±$15kLowest 8% above CT |
$152,396±$32kHighest 59% above CT |
$121,926±$23k 27% above CT |
| Durham and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,600±$23kLowest 23% below CT |
$401,700±$32kHighest 9% above CT |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,625±$1kHighest 9% above CT |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
| Durham and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,915Lowest 11% below CT |
$7,107Highest 7% above CT |
$6,982 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.7%±35 CT: 52.6% |
47%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Durham 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% |
6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
24 minLowest 10% below CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
20%±6.7Highest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5 CT: 16% |
| Durham 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thomaston School District | — | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.