Compare towns

Chaplin vs Lancaster vs Killingly 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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
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.

MeasureChaplinLancasterKillinglyVoluntown
People
Population
2,070Lowest
8,606
17,867Highest
2,604
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
43.7±4.8
12% above U.S.
43.1±4.9
11% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
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%
19.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3Highest
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%
19.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
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%
50.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.1%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
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.
$134,833±$27kHighest
67% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% 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.
$519,100±$60kHighest
56% above U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$356,100±$16k
7% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,473±$275
4% above U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,166±$191
17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,524
45% above U.S.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$4,955
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.6%±27.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
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%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
23% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
31 min
19% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±10
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3
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 — #145 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #53 of 149 in CT
School district Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Nashoba Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Voluntown School District
High school in town Parish Hill High School None in town Killingly High School 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.