Compare towns
Chaplin vs Manchester vs Ashford
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 oldest population (median age 43.7).
Manchester has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Ashford has the most expensive homes ($335k median).
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 | Manchester | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
59,635Highest |
4,226 |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
37±1.2Lowest 10% below CT |
37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
| Chaplin and Ashford 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% |
20%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Manchester and Ashford 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% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±0.7 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Manchester 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 |
$86,840±$4kLowest 9% below CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
| 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 30% below CT |
$247,100±$6kLowest 33% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,519±$66Highest about the CT average |
$1,246±$208Lowest 16% below CT |
| Manchester and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$5,652 15% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.1%±6.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Manchester 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 CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
56.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1962Lowest 5 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above CT |
23 minLowest 15% below CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| 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 | — | #135 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Odyssey Community School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Manchester 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 |
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.