Compare towns

Chaplin vs Putnam vs Mansfield

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 kids (18.6% under 18).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureChaplinPutnamMansfield
People
Population
2,070Lowest
9,292
25,358Highest
Median age
43.7±4.8Highest
6% above CT
43.7±3Highest
6% above CT
21.2±0.2Lowest
48% below CT
Kids under 18
15.7%±4.2
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.6Highest
CT: 20.2%
9.2%±1.6Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Putnam 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%
18.5%±3.1
CT: 18.5%
11%±1.5Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Chaplin and Putnam 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%
20%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
57.9%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.1%±6.2
CT: 7.1%
3.9%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
57%±2.5Highest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,846±$14kHighest
about the CT average
$70,561±$7kLowest
26% below CT
$72,393±$12k
24% below CT
Chaplin and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$255,200±$24kLowest
30% below CT
$269,200±$11k
27% below CT
$335,400±$20kHighest
9% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,473±$275
about the CT average
$1,149±$44Lowest
23% below CT
$1,602±$104Highest
8% above CT
Mansfield and Chaplin 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
$3,860Lowest
42% below CT
$5,727Highest
14% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.6%±27.7Lowest
CT: 52.6%
37.7%±11.6
CT: 52.6%
76%±9.6Highest
CT: 52.6%
Below poverty line
5.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
11.5%
CT: 10%
21.6%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
59.8%
CT: 66.5%
57.3%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
1976
9 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
22% above CT
25 min
6% below CT
21 minLowest
22% below CT
Work from home
18.1%±10
CT: 16%
9%±2.8Lowest
CT: 16%
28.3%±3.3Highest
CT: 16%
Mansfield 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 #45 of 149 in CT
School district Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Putnam School District Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District
High school in town Parish Hill High School Putnam High School E. O. Smith High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.5Lowest
9.5
11.8Highest
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.