Compare towns
Chaplin vs Brookfield vs Franklin vs Ashford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Brookfield | Franklin | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
3,460 |
2,004Lowest |
4,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
40.3±4.3 4% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Brookfield 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. |
$81,250±$37kLowest about the U.S. average |
$105,000±$10k 30% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Ashford and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$341,900±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
$326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Brookfield 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 4% above U.S. |
$1,014±$161 28% below U.S. |
$767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524 45% above U.S. |
$5,092 63% above U.S. |
$3,934Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookfield and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #109 of 282 in MA | — | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Brookfield | Franklin School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | 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 |
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.