Compare towns
Chaplin vs Suffield vs Thomaston
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).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Suffield | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
15,702Highest |
7,492 |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
41.5±7.7Lowest about the CT average |
| Suffield 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 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Suffield 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Thomaston 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 CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
| Suffield and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
| Chaplin and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$5,915 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest CT: 10% |
4.6% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | — | #57 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Suffield School District | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Suffield High School | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
10.9Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.