Compare towns
Chaplin vs Putnam vs Sprague 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).
Sprague has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
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.
| Measure | Chaplin | Putnam | Sprague | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
9,292 |
2,962 |
25,358Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
43.7±3 6% above CT |
48.5±10.7Highest 18% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
| Sprague 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% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±5.4 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Sprague 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% |
19.9%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Sprague 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% CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest 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 |
$92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
$72,393±$12k 24% below CT |
| Chaplin and Sprague 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 |
$273,500±$17k 25% below CT |
$335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,247±$144 16% 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 |
$4,668 30% below CT |
$5,727Highest 14% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
67.2% CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1959Lowest 8 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 |
30 min 12% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest 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 | #141 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Putnam School District | Sprague School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Putnam High School | None in town | 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 | 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.