Compare towns
Chaplin vs Mansfield vs Washington vs Franklin
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).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Washington | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
25,358Highest |
3,676 |
2,004Lowest |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
| Washington and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Chaplin 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% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
53.7% CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$105,000±$10kHighest 10% above CT |
| Franklin and Washington 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 |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
| Mansfield and Chaplin 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 |
$5,727Highest 14% below CT |
$4,709 29% below CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Mansfield and Washington 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 | — | #45 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Regional School District 12 | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | E. O. Smith High School | Shepaug Valley School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
11.8Highest |
9.1 |
— |
| 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.