Compare towns
Chaplin vs Lee vs Ashford
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).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Lee | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
5,719Highest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashford and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Lee 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. |
$83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Ashford 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±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$352,700±$19kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Lee and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,246±$208Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Lee 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. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Ashford 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% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashford 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Lee | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
9.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.