Compare towns
Union vs Willimantic vs Windsor Locks 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).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Union | Willimantic | Windsor Locks | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
18,096Highest |
12,579 |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Windsor Locks 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% 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 |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% 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 | — | $1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,394±$187Highest 6% below CT |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
| Windsor Locks 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 |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8 CT: 52.6% |
47%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Windsor Locks 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 | — | — | #109 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | — | Windsor Locks School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.