Compare towns
Chaplin vs Killingly vs Salem 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).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Salem has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Salem | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
17,867Highest |
4,282 |
2,604 |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
40.9±5.4 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% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Killingly 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% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% CT: 42.5% |
22.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Salem 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 about the CT average |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$101,964±$25k 6% above CT |
| Salem 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 |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$356,100±$16k about the CT average |
| Salem and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,440±$150 3% below CT |
$1,166±$191 22% below CT |
| Chaplin and Salem 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 |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$4,955 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Voluntown and Killingly 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% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
7.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1983 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
28 minLowest 5% above CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Salem 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #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 | Salem School District | 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 |
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.