Compare towns
Ashford vs Union vs Ware vs Chaplin
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 highest household income ($122k).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 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.
| Measure | Ashford | Union | Ware | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
944Lowest |
10,048Highest |
2,070 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
| Union 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Union 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 51% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Ashford and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
— | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
| 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 124% above U.S. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Ware 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ashford School District | Union School District | Ware | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Highest |
7.5Lowest |
| 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.