Compare towns
Ashford vs Chaplin vs Exeter vs Windham
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 highest household income ($122k).
Chaplin has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
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 | Exeter | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
2,070Lowest |
7,195 |
23,961Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3 about the U.S. average |
43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9 3% below U.S. |
33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Ashford 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% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Ashford 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham and Exeter 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 51% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Ashford and Exeter 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±$24k 23% below U.S. |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,881 89% above U.S. |
$4,633 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Windham 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% |
12.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer 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. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #14 of 38 in RI | #143 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Exeter-West Greenwich | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
— | 9.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.