Compare towns
Thomaston vs Northbridge 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
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k median).
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 | Northbridge | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,492 |
16,458Highest |
4,226Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Northbridge and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 28% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Ashford and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,600±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Ashford and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,915 90% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thomaston and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashford and Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thomaston School District | Northbridge | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
10.8Highest |
— |
| 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.