Compare towns
Chaplin vs Columbia vs Killingly 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).
Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
Killingly has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
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 | Columbia | Killingly | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
5,300 |
17,867 |
25,358Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
| Columbia 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% |
13.7%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Killingly 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 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia 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% CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
| Columbia 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 30% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
| Columbia and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,044±$141 30% 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 | $4,524 32% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$5,727Highest 14% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
83.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
| Mansfield and Columbia 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 | — | #114 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Columbia School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Killingly High School | E. O. Smith High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
— | 11.1 |
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.