Compare towns
Thomaston vs Windsor vs Chaplin 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 kids (20.5% under 18).
Windsor has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Windsor | Chaplin | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,492 |
29,468Highest |
2,070Lowest |
4,226 |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
43.7±1.9Highest 6% above CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.2%±2.1 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20%±2 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Windsor 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% |
43.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Windsor 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 |
$104,725±$8k 9% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
| Ashford and Windsor 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 |
$305,200±$11k 17% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
| Ashford and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,681±$62Highest 13% above CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
| Windsor and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,915 11% below CT |
$5,351 19% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| 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 CT: 10% |
6.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7% CT: 66.5% |
82.4% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Chaplin 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | — | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thomaston School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | Windsor High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
10.2 |
7.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.