Compare towns
Chaplin vs Plainville vs Windham vs Voluntown
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).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Voluntown has the most expensive homes ($356k 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 | Windham | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
17,551 |
23,961Highest |
2,604 |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
48.3±1.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Windham and Voluntown 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3 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% CT: 42.5% |
30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Windham and Chaplin 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±$7k 12% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$101,964±$25kHighest 6% above CT |
| Voluntown 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 |
$254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$356,100±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,166±$191 22% below CT |
| Chaplin and Voluntown 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 |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$4,955Highest 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Voluntown 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% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
7.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Plainville 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Plainville High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
11.4Highest |
9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.