Compare towns
Chaplin vs Salem vs Mansfield vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chaplin has the most homeowners (82.9%).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($543k median).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 21.2).
Windham has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
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 | Salem | Mansfield | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
44,795Highest |
25,358 |
23,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
21.2±0.2Lowest 46% below U.S. |
33.7±1.9 13% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
11%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
57%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$72,393±$12k 10% below U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24k 23% below U.S. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$335,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,602±$104 13% above U.S. |
$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$5,727 84% above U.S. |
$4,633 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
76%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #248 of 282 in MA | #45 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Salem | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Salem High | E. O. Smith High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
9.8 |
11.8Highest |
9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.