Compare towns
Ashford vs Chaplin vs Willimantic
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 most expensive homes ($335k median).
Chaplin has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% 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 | Willimantic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,226 |
2,070Lowest |
18,096Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% 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%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic 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%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% 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±$24k 30% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
| 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 |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Ashford School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | — |
| High school 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 |
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.