Compare towns
Chaplin vs Middlefield vs Mansfield 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).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Middlefield | Mansfield | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
4,243 |
25,358Highest |
2,004Lowest |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield 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% |
41.5% CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$105,000±$10kHighest 10% above CT |
| Franklin and Middlefield 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 |
$376,000±$27kHighest about the CT average |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
| Middlefield and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,602±$104 8% above CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524 32% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Mansfield 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% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Mansfield 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 | — | #65 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | E. O. Smith High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
— | 11.8Highest |
— |
| 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.