Compare towns
Ashford vs Bethlehem vs Union vs Chaplin
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).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
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 | Bethlehem | Union | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226Highest |
3,423 |
944Lowest |
2,070 |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
49.9±4.3 21% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ashford and Union 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% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3% CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
| Ashford and Bethlehem 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 |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
— | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
29 minLowest 9% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Ashford School District | Regional School District 14 | Union School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.5 |
| 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.