Compare towns
Chaplin vs Killingly vs Lancaster 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 affordable homes ($255k median).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Killingly | Lancaster | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
17,867Highest |
8,606 |
2,604 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.9 11% above 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% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Lancaster 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% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Lancaster 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% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Killingly 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. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$101,964±$25k 26% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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 23% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$356,100±$16k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,166±$191 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524 45% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,955 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±24.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Nashoba | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— | — |
| 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.