Compare towns
Chaplin vs Thomaston vs Plainfield vs Franklin
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 people working from home (18.1%).
Thomaston has the oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% 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 | Thomaston | Plainfield | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
7,492 |
15,141Highest |
2,004Lowest |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Thomaston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Thomaston 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 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% CT: 42.5% |
34%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Plainfield 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 |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$105,000±$10kHighest 10% above CT |
| Franklin 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 |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$326,200±$20kHighest 11% below CT |
| Franklin and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,037±$147 30% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
| Chaplin and Plainfield 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 |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Plainfield 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 | — | #106 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Thomaston School District | Plainfield School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Thomaston High School | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
10.7Highest |
10.3 |
— |
| 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.