Compare towns
Thomaston vs Walpole 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).
Walpole has the most expensive homes ($687k 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 | Walpole | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,492 |
26,388Highest |
4,226Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2 5% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Thomaston and Walpole 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% |
25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole 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% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest 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% |
67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thomaston and Walpole 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. |
$171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,600±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$687,100±$20kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,915Lowest 90% above U.S. |
$8,523Highest 173% above U.S. |
$6,982 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thomaston and Ashford 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% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 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 |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walpole 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thomaston School District | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | Walpole High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.3Highest |
— |
| 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.