Compare towns
Chaplin vs Franklin vs Wolcott vs Mansfield
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).
Wolcott has the highest household income ($111k).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Franklin | Wolcott | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
2,004Lowest |
16,279 |
25,358Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
44.4±2.5Highest 8% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
| Wolcott and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±3.1 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Wolcott 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% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Wolcott 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% |
37% CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
$110,850±$10kHighest 16% above CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
| Wolcott 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 |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
$326,200±$17k 11% below CT |
$335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
| Mansfield and Franklin 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 |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,464±$913 about the CT average |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
| Mansfield and Chaplin 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 |
$5,799Highest 13% below CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
49.8%±24.2 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Wolcott 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% CT: 10% |
1.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
84.1% CT: 66.5% |
88.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1973Lowest 6 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
30 min 13% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.2%±3.1 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
| Mansfield 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 | — | — | #76 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Franklin School District | Wolcott School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Wolcott High School | E. O. Smith High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
— | 10.1 |
11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.