Compare towns
Ashford vs Chaplin vs Plainfield vs Willington
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 highest household income ($122k).
Chaplin has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Plainfield has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Willington has the most renters (36% 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 | Plainfield | Willington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
2,070Lowest |
15,141Highest |
5,575 |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
37.5±7.2 9% below CT |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
12.8%±4.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±6.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Willington 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
33.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
14.6%±6.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Willington and Chaplin 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 |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$91,114±$12k 5% below CT |
| Ashford and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$305,800±$48k 17% below CT |
| Ashford and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,357±$116 9% below CT |
| Chaplin and Willington 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 |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,419 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
70%±20.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Willington 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 CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
13%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
64%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
26 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
10.5%±4.7 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #104 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Plainfield School District | Willington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| 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.