Compare towns
Chaplin vs Suffield vs Thompson
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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
15,702Highest |
9,337 |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Suffield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Suffield 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 about the CT average |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average |
| Suffield 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 30% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% 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 | $4,524 32% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.9%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest 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 | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Suffield School District | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Suffield High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
10.9Highest |
7.9 |
| 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.