Compare towns
Thomaston vs Orange vs Windsor Locks vs Ashford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 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 | Orange | Windsor Locks | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,492 |
14,315Highest |
12,579 |
4,226Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
| Orange 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 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange 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 CT: 18.5% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange 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% CT: 42.5% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Thomaston 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 |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$81,205±$13kLowest 15% below CT |
$121,926±$23k 27% above CT |
| Orange 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±$23k 23% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,915 11% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$6,982 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
47%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Windsor Locks 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% |
3.9% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
28 min 4% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Windsor Locks 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thomaston School District | — | Windsor Locks School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | — | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.