Compare towns
Chaplin vs Suffield vs Willimantic vs Ashford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Willimantic | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
15,702 |
18,096Highest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
44.5±1.7Highest 8% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
| 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% |
20.6%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic 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 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$119,472±$13k 25% above CT |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
| Ashford and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$407,500±$26kHighest 11% above CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,246±$208 16% 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 |
$6,456 about the CT average |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above CT |
26 min 3% below CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1 CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Ashford 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 | — | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Suffield School District | — | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Suffield High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
10.9Highest |
— | — |
| 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.