Compare towns
Chaplin vs Salem vs Windham vs Ashford
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 oldest population (median age 43.7).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($543k median).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Windham | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
44,795Highest |
23,961 |
4,226 |
| 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 |
33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below U.S. |
37.9±10.3 about the U.S. average |
| 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%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Ashford 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% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Ashford 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham and Chaplin 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±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$121,926±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Ashford 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 23% below U.S. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,246±$208 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
$4,633 49% above U.S. |
$6,982Highest 124% 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% |
57.1%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Salem 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Ashford 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Salem | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Salem High | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
9.8Highest |
9.8Highest |
— |
| 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.