Compare towns
Baltic vs Ashford vs Chaplin vs Sprague
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Baltic has the most renters (62.2% rent).
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
Chaplin has the most homeowners (82.9%).
Sprague has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
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 | Baltic | Ashford | Chaplin | Sprague |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,157Lowest |
4,226Highest |
2,070 |
2,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 37.8±15.8Lowest 8% below CT |
37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
48.5±10.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Sprague and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±10.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±5.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Ashford and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±5.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.9%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
19.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6 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 | $68,958±$47kLowest 28% below CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$92,850±$11k 3% 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 | $196,200±$27kLowest 47% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$273,500±$17k 25% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$141 16% below CT |
$1,246±$208Lowest 16% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,247±$144 16% below CT |
| Chaplin and Baltic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,799Lowest 43% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$4,668 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.3%±13.7 CT: 52.6% |
47%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Ashford and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
| Work from home | 5.2%±4.6 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest 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 | — | #141 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Ashford School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Sprague 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 |
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.