Compare towns
Chaplin vs Bethlehem vs Ashford vs Mansfield
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).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Ashford has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Bethlehem | Ashford | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
3,423 |
4,226 |
25,358Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ashford and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Chaplin 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% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
| Ashford and Bethlehem 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 |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
| Mansfield and Chaplin 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 |
$5,932 11% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Bethlehem 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% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Lowest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #82 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Regional School District 14 | Ashford School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | None in town | E. O. Smith High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
— | — | 11.8Highest |
| 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.