Compare towns
Chaplin vs Ellington vs Mansfield vs Franklin
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).
Ellington has the highest household income ($130k).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Ellington | Mansfield | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
16,455 |
25,358Highest |
2,004Lowest |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Ellington 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% |
24%±3.2 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Ellington 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% |
51.4% CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
| Ellington and Franklin 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 |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
| Ellington 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 |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
$1,602±$104 8% above CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
| Ellington and Mansfield 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 |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
72.2% CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1973Lowest 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #46 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Ellington School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Ellington High School | E. O. Smith High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
10.3 |
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.