Compare towns
Chaplin vs Plainville 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 most people working from home (18.1%).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 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 | Plainville | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
17,551Highest |
4,282 |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
| Plainville and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Chaplin 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% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Plainville 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% |
30% CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Plainville 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 |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,126±$147Lowest 24% 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 | $4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,798 28% below CT |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Plainville 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% |
6.5%Highest CT: 10% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%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 |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Lowest 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 | — | #89 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Plainville High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
11.4Highest |
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| 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.