Compare towns
Thomaston vs Suffield vs Colebrook 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).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Suffield | Colebrook | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,492 |
15,702Highest |
1,494Lowest |
4,226 |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9 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%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook 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% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
36.6% CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Thomaston and Colebrook 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 |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$111,250±$17k 16% above CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
| Ashford and Suffield 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 |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$342,800±$19k 7% below CT |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
$1,333±$626 10% below CT |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
| Suffield and Colebrook 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 |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$6,211 7% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Suffield 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% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7% CT: 66.5% |
86.7% CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | — | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thomaston School District | Suffield School District | Colebrook School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | Suffield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
10.9Highest |
— | — |
| 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.