Compare towns
Ashford vs Suffield vs Chaplin vs Thomaston
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 youngest population (median age 37.9).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Suffield | Chaplin | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
15,702Highest |
2,070Lowest |
7,492 |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
| Suffield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 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% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Thomaston 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 |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
| Ashford and Suffield 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 |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
| Chaplin and Suffield 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 |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$5,915 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
5.4%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | — | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Suffield School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | Parish Hill High School | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
7.5Lowest |
10.7 |
| 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.