Compare towns

Ashford vs Deep River vs Chaplin

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).
Deep River has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k 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.

MeasureAshfordDeep RiverChaplin
People
Population
4,226
4,458Highest
2,070Lowest
Median age
37.9±10.3Lowest
8% below CT
46.2±5.6Highest
12% above CT
43.7±4.8
6% above CT
Deep River and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.5%±5.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
16.6%±4.7
CT: 20.2%
15.7%±4.2Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Ashford and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.9%±3.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
22.1%±4.1Highest
CT: 18.5%
20.9%±4.4
CT: 18.5%
Deep River 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%
CT: 42.5%
44.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
25.4%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±1.7
CT: 7.1%
3.8%±2.2Lowest
CT: 7.1%
10.1%±6.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
Chaplin and Ashford 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
$90,253±$19kLowest
6% below CT
$97,846±$14k
about the CT average
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±$18k
9% below CT
$362,200±$26kHighest
about the CT average
$255,200±$24kLowest
30% below CT
Deep River and Ashford 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
$1,221±$185Lowest
18% below CT
$1,473±$275Highest
about the CT average
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
$6,092
8% below CT
$4,524Lowest
32% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47%±26
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±22.9Highest
CT: 52.6%
33.6%±27.7Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Deep River 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%
8.2%Highest
CT: 10%
5.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76.8%
CT: 66.5%
69.2%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
82.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
15 yrs newer than CT
1974Lowest
7 yrs newer than CT
1979
12 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above CT
24 minLowest
9% below CT
32 min
22% above CT
Work from home
19.3%±5.5Highest
CT: 16%
15.2%±5.6Lowest
CT: 16%
18.1%±10
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 #70 of 149 in CT —
School district Ashford School District Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town None in town Valley Regional High School Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.3Highest
7.5Lowest
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.