Compare towns
Chaplin vs Quinebaug vs Thompson 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 kids (15.7% under 18).
Quinebaug has the most homeowners (97%).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
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 | Quinebaug | Thompson | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
1,193Lowest |
9,337 |
25,358Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.7% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
56.5±1Highest 37% above CT |
54.1±2.2 32% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
| Quinebaug and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
0%±3.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Chaplin and Thompson 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% |
29.1%±9.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Quinebaug and Thompson 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% |
10.3%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$105,181±$36kHighest 10% above CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
| Quinebaug 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 |
$237,800±$66kLowest 35% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 about the CT average |
— | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% 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 |
$3,703Lowest 44% below CT |
$3,822 42% below CT |
$5,727Highest 14% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
1.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
97%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
26 min about the CT average |
32 min 20% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
23.3%±17.9 CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
| Mansfield and Quinebaug 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 | — | — | #130 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | — | Thompson School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | E. O. Smith High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
— | 7.9 |
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.