Compare towns
Chaplin vs Norwich vs Willimantic 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).
Norwich has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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 | Norwich | Willimantic | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
39,973Highest |
18,096 |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.9%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
+2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
38.5±1.7 6% below CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
| Chaplin and Norwich 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% |
20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich and Willimantic 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% |
16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest 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% CT: 42.5% |
23.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$65,024±$5k 32% below CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% 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 |
$242,300±$11k 34% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,253±$68 16% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
| Chaplin and Norwich 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 |
$4,703 29% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and Willimantic 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% |
16.7% CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.8% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1957 10 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest 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 | — | #133 of 149 in CT | — | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | — | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Norwich Free Academy | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
14.8Highest |
— | — |
| 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.