Compare towns
Chaplin vs Suffield vs Washington vs Voluntown
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 highest household income ($119k).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
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 | Washington | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
15,702Highest |
3,676 |
2,604 |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
48.3±1.7 18% above CT |
| Washington and Voluntown 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% |
19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Washington and Voluntown 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%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.4% CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Washington 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 |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$101,964±$25k 6% above CT |
| Suffield and Voluntown 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±$26k 11% above CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$356,100±$16k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,166±$191Lowest 22% 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 |
$4,709 29% below CT |
$4,955 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Suffield and Voluntown 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% |
9%Highest CT: 10% |
7.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Washington and Suffield 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Suffield School District | Regional School District 12 | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Suffield High School | Shepaug Valley School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
10.9Highest |
9.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.