Compare towns

Chaplin vs Putnam 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 homeowners (82.9%).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% 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.

MeasureChaplinPutnamAshford
People
Population
2,070Lowest
7,120Highest
4,226
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-2.1%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
43.7±4.8Highest
6% above CT
41.2±5.1
about the CT average
37.9±10.3Lowest
8% below CT
Chaplin and Putnam 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%
18.9%±4.3Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.5%±5.5
CT: 20.2%
Putnam and Ashford 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%
17%±3.7Lowest
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%
18.8%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
35.3%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.1%±6.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±1.8Lowest
CT: 7.1%
4.4%±1.7
CT: 7.1%
Chaplin and Ashford 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
$65,511±$7kLowest
32% 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
$245,100±$13kLowest
33% below CT
$334,800±$18kHighest
9% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,473±$275Highest
about the CT average
$1,147±$43Lowest
23% below CT
$1,246±$208
16% below CT
Chaplin and Ashford 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
$3,564Lowest
46% below CT
$6,982Highest
5% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.6%±27.7Lowest
CT: 52.6%
38.2%±12.1
CT: 52.6%
47%±26Highest
CT: 52.6%
Ashford and Putnam 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%
11.7%Highest
CT: 10%
5.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
50.7%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
76.8%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
12 yrs newer than CT
1956Lowest
11 yrs older than CT
1982Highest
15 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
22% above CT
25 minLowest
5% below CT
34 minHighest
30% above CT
Work from home
18.1%±10
CT: 16%
6.7%±2.7Lowest
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 — #128 of 149 in CT #90 of 149 in CT
School district Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 — Ashford School District
High school in town Parish Hill High School — 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.