Compare towns
Union vs Thompson vs Colebrook 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 most homeowners (92.9%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Colebrook has the most expensive homes ($343k median).
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 | Thompson | Colebrook | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
9,337Highest |
1,494 |
4,226 |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3 21% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
52.1±5 27% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
| Thompson and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Ashford and Colebrook 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% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 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 |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$111,250±$17k 16% above CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
| Ashford and Colebrook 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 |
$291,900±$24kLowest 20% below CT |
$342,800±$19kHighest 7% below CT |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
| Colebrook and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,333±$626Highest 10% below CT |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
| Colebrook 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 |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,211 7% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above CT |
32 minLowest 20% above CT |
34 min 29% above CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Thompson 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 |
| School district | Union School District | Thompson School District | Colebrook School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.