Compare towns
Chaplin vs Shirley 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%).
Shirley has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% 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 | Shirley | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
6,976 |
23,961Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4Highest 14% above U.S. |
33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Shirley 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% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Shirley 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% |
19.8%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Shirley 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% |
36.7%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% |
5.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8Highest 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. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Shirley 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. |
$427,600±$36kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Shirley and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,156Highest 65% above U.S. |
$4,633 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley 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 | — | #239 of 282 in MA | #143 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Ayer Shirley School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Windham High School |
| 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.