Compare towns
Chaplin vs Plainfield vs Salem
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).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($404k 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 | Plainfield | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
15,141Highest |
4,282 |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Salem 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% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Salem 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Salem 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 |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,440±$150 3% below CT |
| Chaplin and Salem 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 |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Plainfield and Chaplin 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% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 min 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Salem 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Plainfield School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| 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.