Compare towns
Ashford vs Chaplin vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashford has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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 | Chaplin | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,226 |
2,070Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Dedham 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Dedham 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 51% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Dedham 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 about the U.S. average |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982 124% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Ashford 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashford School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Dedham |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
10.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.