Compare towns
Chaplin vs Orange 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 affordable homes ($255k median).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k median).
Ashford has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
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 | Orange | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
14,315Highest |
4,226 |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
| Orange and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Ashford 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% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Orange 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% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$121,926±$23k 27% above CT |
| Orange and Ashford 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 |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,246±$208Lowest 16% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$6,982 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Lowest 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 | — | #38 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5 |
— | — |
| 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.