Compare towns

Chaplin vs Franklin vs Suffield 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 affordable homes ($255k median).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Ashford has the most renters (23.2% rent).

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.

MeasureChaplinFranklinSuffieldAshford
People
Population
2,070
2,004Lowest
15,702Highest
4,226
Median age
43.7±4.8
6% above CT
40.3±4.3
about the CT average
44.5±1.7Highest
8% above CT
37.9±10.3Lowest
8% below CT
Suffield 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%
16.2%±2
CT: 20.2%
18.5%±5.5
CT: 20.2%
Franklin and Ashford 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%±1.9Lowest
CT: 18.5%
18.4%±2.2
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%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
27.8%
CT: 42.5%
40.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
35.3%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.1%±6.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
4.4%±1.2
CT: 7.1%
4.4%±1.7
CT: 7.1%
Chaplin and Suffield 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
$119,472±$13k
25% above CT
$121,926±$23kHighest
27% above CT
Ashford and Suffield 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
$407,500±$26kHighest
11% above CT
$334,800±$18k
9% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,473±$275Highest
about the CT average
$767±$529Lowest
48% below CT
$1,424±$141
4% below CT
$1,246±$208
16% below CT
Chaplin and Suffield 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
$6,456
about the CT average
$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%
51%±4.6Highest
CT: 52.6%
47%±26
CT: 52.6%
Suffield 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%
4.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
5.4%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
CT: 66.5%
84.1%
CT: 66.5%
86.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
76.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
12 yrs newer than CT
1973Lowest
6 yrs newer than CT
1979
12 yrs newer 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
26 minLowest
3% below CT
34 minHighest
30% above CT
Work from home
18.1%±10
CT: 16%
6.8%±2.4Lowest
CT: 16%
18.4%±4.1
CT: 16%
19.3%±5.5Highest
CT: 16%
Ashford and Suffield 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 — — #57 of 149 in CT #90 of 149 in CT
School district Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Franklin School District Suffield School District Ashford School District
High school in town Parish Hill High School None in town Suffield High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
7.5Lowest
—
10.9Highest
—
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.