Compare towns
Thomaston vs Upton 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
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 | Upton | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,492 |
8,189Highest |
4,226Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Upton 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 15% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147 27% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Ashford and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,915Lowest 90% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,982 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thomaston and Upton 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thomaston School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| 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.