Compare towns
Chaplin vs Middletown vs Windsor Locks 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 most homeowners (82.9%).
Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 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 | Middletown | Windsor Locks | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
47,958Highest |
12,579 |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
38.1±1.5 7% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
| Chaplin and Windsor Locks 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% |
14.3%±1.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
16.5%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 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% |
40.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
15.5%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Middletown 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 about the CT average |
$79,438±$6kLowest 17% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% 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±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$295,300±$11k 20% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,446±$45 about the CT average |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,246±$208Lowest 16% below CT |
| Chaplin and Middletown 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 |
$6,412 3% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47.7%±5.3 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Middletown 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% |
12%Highest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
52.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1972 5 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 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 | — | #121 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Windsor Locks School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Middletown High School | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
11.8Highest |
8.9 |
— |
| 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.