Compare towns
Chaplin vs Ayer vs Windham vs Scotland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the most expensive homes ($464k median).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Scotland has the most homeowners (91.8%).
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 | Ayer | Windham | Scotland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
8,645 |
23,961Highest |
1,599Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below U.S. |
44.7±5Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Scotland 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Scotland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$99,881±$12k 24% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Scotland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24k 23% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$294,100±$20k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,188±$468 16% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$4,633 49% above U.S. |
$6,175Highest 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±75.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer 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 | — | #113 of 282 in MA | #143 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Ayer Shirley School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Scotland School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
11.5Highest |
9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.