Compare towns
Chaplin vs Derby vs Ashford
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 homeowners (82.9%).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
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 | Derby | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
12,487Highest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
| Derby 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% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| 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 CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Derby 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 CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Derby 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 about the CT average |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
| 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 30% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,246±$208Lowest 16% below CT |
| Chaplin and Derby 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 |
$5,510 17% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Derby 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 CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| 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 | — | #138 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Derby School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Derby High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
9.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.