Compare towns
Chaplin vs Hamden vs Franklin vs Voluntown
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).
Hamden has the most renters (37.6% rent).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Hamden | Franklin | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
61,045Highest |
2,004Lowest |
2,604 |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
48.3±1.7Highest 18% above CT |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Hamden 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% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Hamden 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±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$105,000±$10kHighest 10% above CT |
$101,964±$25k 6% above CT |
| Franklin and Voluntown 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 |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
$356,100±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Voluntown 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 |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,166±$191 22% below CT |
| Hamden 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 |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,955 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Voluntown 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% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
7.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Hamden 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 | — | #122 of 149 in CT | — | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Franklin School District | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Hamden High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— | — |
| 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.