Compare towns
Union vs Prospect vs Ashford vs Colebrook
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 most affordable homes ($330k median).
Prospect has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Prospect | Ashford | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
9,458Highest |
4,226 |
1,494 |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3 21% above CT |
46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
| Colebrook and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Prospect and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
36.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Colebrook 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±$14kLowest 7% below CT |
$126,394±$18kHighest 32% above CT |
$121,926±$23k 27% above CT |
$111,250±$17k 16% above CT |
| Prospect and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,400±$26kLowest 10% below CT |
$355,400±$21kHighest 3% below CT |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
$342,800±$19k 7% below CT |
| Prospect and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
$1,246±$208Lowest 16% below CT |
$1,333±$626 10% below CT |
| Prospect and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793Lowest 28% below CT |
$6,504 about the CT average |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$6,211 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7 CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #50 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Union School District | Regional School District 16 | Ashford School District | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.