Compare towns
Chaplin vs Franklin vs Ashford vs Preston
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).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Ashford has the most renters (23.2% rent).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Franklin | Ashford | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
2,004Lowest |
4,226 |
4,821Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
| Preston and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Preston 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% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston 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% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Preston 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 |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$116,648±$27k 22% above CT |
| Ashford and Preston 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 |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Preston and Ashford 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 |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
| Chaplin and Preston 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 |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
84.1% CT: 66.5% |
76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 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 | — | — | #90 of 149 in CT | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Franklin School District | Ashford School District | Preston School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | 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.