Compare towns
Chaplin vs Durham vs Middlefield vs Voluntown
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).
Durham has the highest household income ($159k).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Durham | Middlefield | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
7,208Highest |
4,243 |
2,604 |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
45.5±2.8 11% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
48.3±1.7 18% above CT |
| Middlefield 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% |
16.4%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield 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% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$158,857±$7kHighest 66% above CT |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$101,964±$25k 6% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$356,100±$16k about the CT average |
| Durham and Middlefield 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 |
$1,154±$448Lowest 22% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,166±$191 22% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$7,998Highest 20% above CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
$4,955 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
3.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
7.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
93.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
86.5% CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Durham 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 | — | #88 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 13 | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
8.9Highest |
— | — |
| 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.