Compare towns
Chaplin vs Putnam vs Thompson 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 (40.2% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Thompson | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
9,292 |
9,337Highest |
2,604 |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
48.3±1.7 18% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Chaplin 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% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
26.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Putnam 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$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±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$356,100±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% 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 | $4,524 32% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,955Highest 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson 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% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
7.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Putnam School District | Thompson School District | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
9.5Highest |
7.9 |
— |
| 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.