Compare towns
Chaplin vs Salem vs Voluntown
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 affordable homes ($255k median).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($543k median).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
44,795Highest |
2,604 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.3±1.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Voluntown and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Voluntown 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%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 21% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$101,964±$25kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| 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 23% below U.S. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$356,100±$16k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,166±$191Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,955 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±24.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | — | #248 of 282 in MA | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Salem | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
9.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.