Compare towns
Union vs Norwich vs Ashford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Union | Norwich | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 944Lowest |
39,973Highest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% CT: 42.5% |
23.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Norwich and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
| Ashford and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
| Ashford and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,253±$68Highest 16% below CT |
$1,246±$208Lowest 16% below CT |
| Norwich and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793 28% below CT |
$4,703Lowest 29% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
47%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7 CT: 16% |
7.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #133 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Norwich Free Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8 |
— |
| 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.