Compare towns
Baltic vs Chaplin vs Middlefield vs Voluntown
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).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Voluntown has the most kids (16.4% 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 | Baltic | Chaplin | Middlefield | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,157Lowest |
2,070 |
4,243Highest |
2,604 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 37.8±15.8Lowest 8% below CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
48.3±1.7 18% above CT |
| Middlefield and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±10.8 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Voluntown and Chaplin 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% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Chaplin 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% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Middlefield 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 |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$101,964±$25kHighest 6% above CT |
| Voluntown and Middlefield 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 |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$376,000±$27kHighest about the CT average |
$356,100±$16k about the CT average |
| Middlefield and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$141 16% below CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,166±$191Lowest 22% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,799Lowest 43% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$4,955 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.3%±13.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Voluntown 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% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
7.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 5.2%±4.6Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Middlefield 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 | — | — | #65 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Regional School District 13 | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | — | Parish Hill High School | None in town | 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.