Compare towns
Chaplin vs Ashford vs Voluntown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Chaplin | Ashford | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
4,226Highest |
2,604 |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
48.3±1.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Voluntown and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Ashford and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3Lowest 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+ | 25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest 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 | $97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$101,964±$25k 6% above CT |
| Ashford and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
$356,100±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Voluntown and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,166±$191Lowest 22% below CT |
| Chaplin and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$4,955 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Ashford and Voluntown 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% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
31 minLowest 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest 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 | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Ashford School District | 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 |
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.