Compare towns
Chaplin vs Cheshire 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).
Cheshire has the oldest population (median age 53.7).
Ashford has the most expensive homes ($335k median).
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 | Cheshire | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
3,216 |
4,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
53.7±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashford 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cheshire 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% |
26.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Cheshire 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. |
$69,803±$14kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$121,926±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Ashford 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. |
$268,200±$48k 19% below U.S. |
$334,800±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
— | $1,246±$208Lowest 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. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.2%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashford and Chaplin 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±2.7Lowest 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 | — | #274 of 282 in MA | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Hoosac Valley Regional | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Hoosac Valley High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
10.5Highest |
— |
| 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.