Compare towns
Thompson vs Ashford vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Canterbury has the most homeowners (88.7%).
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 | Thompson | Ashford | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,337Highest |
4,226Lowest |
5,124 |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
48.4±4.5 18% above CT |
| Thompson and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Ashford and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Canterbury and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$103,198±$6k 8% above CT |
| Ashford and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
$334,200±$12k 9% below CT |
| Ashford and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344 32% below CT |
$1,246±$208Highest 16% below CT |
$924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
| Ashford and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$4,140 38% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
40%±13Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% CT: 66.5% |
76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
32 minLowest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4Lowest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Canterbury 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Ashford School District | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.