Compare towns
Chaplin vs Lee vs Windham 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 homeowners (82.9%).
Lee has the oldest population (median age 55.2).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
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 | Windham | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
5,719 |
23,961Highest |
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. |
33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below U.S. |
37.9±10.3 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Ashford 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham 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±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below 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±$24k 23% below U.S. |
$352,700±$19kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below 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 |
$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208 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. |
$4,633 49% 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% |
57.1%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Windham 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%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% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 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. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Lee | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Lee Middle/High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
9.2 |
9.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.