Compare towns
Chaplin vs Franklin vs Putnam 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 oldest population (median age 43.7).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Putnam | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
2,004Lowest |
7,120Highest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
| Chaplin and Putnam 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% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Putnam 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% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Ashford 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% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Ashford 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 |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
| Ashford 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±$24k 30% below CT |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
| Ashford and Franklin 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 |
$1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
| Chaplin and Ashford 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 |
$3,934 41% below CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
47%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Ashford and Putnam 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest 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 | — | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Franklin School District | — | Ashford 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.