Compare towns

Chaplin vs Norfolk vs Washington

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).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k 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.

MeasureChaplinNorfolkWashington
People
Population
2,070
1,723Lowest
3,676Highest
Median age
43.7±4.8Lowest
6% above CT
48.2±7.4
17% above CT
49.9±5.5Highest
21% above CT
Washington and Norfolk 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%
15.8%±4.8
CT: 20.2%
19%±4.7Highest
CT: 20.2%
Washington and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.9%±4.4Lowest
CT: 18.5%
28.8%±3.7Highest
CT: 18.5%
26.9%±5.3
CT: 18.5%
Norfolk and Washington 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%
48.6%
CT: 42.5%
53.7%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.1%±6.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
2.1%±1.1Lowest
CT: 7.1%
6.4%±3.3
CT: 7.1%
Chaplin and Washington 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
$91,548±$16kLowest
4% below CT
$101,549±$16kHighest
6% above CT
Washington 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
$430,900±$54k
17% above CT
$660,200±$130kHighest
80% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,473±$275Highest
about the CT average
$1,190±$116Lowest
20% below CT
$1,204±$264
19% below CT
Chaplin and Washington 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
$6,065Highest
9% below CT
$4,709
29% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.6%±27.7Highest
CT: 52.6%
27.3%±17
CT: 52.6%
26.1%±24Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Chaplin and Norfolk 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%
7.5%
CT: 10%
9%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
81.1%
CT: 66.5%
79%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
1938Lowest
29 yrs older than CT
1971
4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
22% above CT
27 min
3% above CT
26 minLowest
4% below CT
Work from home
18.1%±10Lowest
CT: 16%
23.3%±4.7Highest
CT: 16%
20.1%±9
CT: 16%
Norfolk 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 — — #17 of 149 in CT
School district Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Norfolk School District Regional School District 12
High school in town Parish Hill High School None in town Shepaug Valley School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.5Lowest
—
9.1Highest
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.