Compare towns
Ashford vs Berlin vs Chaplin vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashford has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Salem has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Ashford | Berlin | Chaplin | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
20,361Highest |
2,070Lowest |
4,282 |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
48.7±3Highest 18% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
| Berlin and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.7 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Berlin and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3% CT: 42.5% |
44.9% CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
7.2%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23k 27% above CT |
$113,598±$11k 19% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
| Salem and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
$374,600±$13k about the CT average |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
| Salem and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Lowest 16% below CT |
$1,402±$88 6% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,440±$150 3% below CT |
| Chaplin and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982 5% above CT |
$7,291Highest 10% above CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,668 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
63.4%±11.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Berlin and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
6.2%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.6% CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1972Lowest 5 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
21 minLowest 21% below CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Chaplin 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 | #90 of 149 in CT | #73 of 149 in CT | — | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Berlin School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Berlin High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.