Compare towns
Chaplin vs Brookfield vs Voluntown
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 people working from home (18.1%).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
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 | Brookfield | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
3,460Highest |
2,604 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
48.3±1.7 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Voluntown and Chaplin 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% |
17.6%±3Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7% 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% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$101,964±$25kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Voluntown and Chaplin 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±$23k about the U.S. average |
$356,100±$16kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Voluntown and Brookfield 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±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,166±$191 17% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Voluntown 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. |
$5,092Highest 63% above U.S. |
$4,955 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±24.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookfield 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Brookfield 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 | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Brookfield | 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 |
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.