Compare towns
Ashford vs Chaplin vs Webster vs Salem
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 most people working from home (19.3%).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($404k 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 | Webster | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
2,070Lowest |
12,228Highest |
4,282 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3 about the U.S. average |
43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
40.9±5.4 5% above U.S. |
| Chaplin and Salem 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% |
21.8%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Salem and Webster 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% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Salem 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% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%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% |
6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Webster 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±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$63,837±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$123,245±$8kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$333,100±$14k about the U.S. average |
$403,600±$33kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,198±$85Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,440±$150 about the U.S. average |
| Chaplin and Salem 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. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
$3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$6,668 114% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±26Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashford and Webster 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18%±9.6 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | — | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5 |
— | — |
| 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.