Compare towns
Chaplin vs Salem vs Putnam
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 affordable homes ($255k median).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($404k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Salem | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
4,282 |
9,292Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Putnam 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% |
19.7%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Salem 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% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Salem 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 |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,440±$150 3% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
| Chaplin and Salem 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 |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Putnam and Chaplin 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% |
6.2% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
32 min 19% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Salem 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 | — | #11 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Salem School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
— | 9.5Highest |
| 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.