Compare towns
Chaplin vs Putnam vs Windsor Locks 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%).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Putnam | Windsor Locks | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
7,120 |
12,579Highest |
2,604 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
41.2±5.1Lowest about the CT average |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
48.3±1.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Voluntown 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% |
18.9%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Windsor Locks 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% |
28.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Windsor Locks 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 |
$81,205±$13k 15% 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 |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$356,100±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,166±$191 22% below CT |
| Chaplin and Windsor Locks 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 |
$3,688 44% below CT |
$4,955Highest 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
10.9% CT: 10% |
7.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | — | Windsor Locks School District | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | — | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
— | 8.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.