Compare towns
Chaplin vs Bethlehem vs Suffield 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).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 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 | Chaplin | Bethlehem | Suffield | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
3,423 |
15,702Highest |
2,604 |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
48.3±1.7 18% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Voluntown 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% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Voluntown 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% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3Lowest 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% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Bethlehem 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 |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$101,964±$25k 6% above CT |
| Suffield 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 |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$356,100±$16k about the CT average |
| Bethlehem and Suffield 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 |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,166±$191 22% below CT |
| Chaplin and Suffield 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 |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$4,955 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | — | #82 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Regional School District 14 | Suffield School District | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Suffield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
— | 10.9Highest |
— |
| 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.