Compare towns
Chaplin vs Columbia vs Willimantic vs Voluntown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Voluntown has the most homeowners (83.5%).
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 | Willimantic | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
5,300 |
18,096Highest |
2,604 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
48.3±1.7 18% above CT |
| Columbia and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Voluntown 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$101,964±$25k 6% above CT |
| Columbia and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$356,100±$16k about the CT average |
| Columbia and Voluntown 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 |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,063±$68 29% below CT |
$1,166±$191 22% below CT |
| 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 32% below CT |
$5,228Highest 21% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,955 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic 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 CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
7.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1983 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Columbia 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 | — | #114 of 149 in CT | — | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Columbia School District | — | 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 | 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.