Compare towns
Chaplin vs Gardner vs Windham vs Voluntown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Gardner has the oldest housing (typical home built 1954).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 33.7).
Voluntown has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
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 | Gardner | Windham | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
21,148 |
23,961Highest |
2,604 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below U.S. |
48.3±1.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Voluntown 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham and Chaplin 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 21% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$101,964±$25kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Voluntown and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24k 23% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$356,100±$16kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,166±$191 17% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524 45% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,633 49% above U.S. |
$4,955Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±24.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Gardner 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | #143 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Gardner | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Gardner High | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
13.5Highest |
9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.