Compare towns

Chaplin vs Union vs Ashford

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).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).

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.

MeasureChaplinUnionAshford
People
Population
2,070
944Lowest
4,226Highest
Median age
43.7±4.8
6% above CT
49.9±4.3Highest
21% above CT
37.9±10.3Lowest
8% below CT
Union 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%
16.9%±4.3
CT: 20.2%
18.5%±5.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
Ashford and Union 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%
24.5%±2.6Highest
CT: 18.5%
18.9%±3.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Union 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%
24%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
35.3%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.1%±6.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
5%±3.3
CT: 7.1%
4.4%±1.7Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Chaplin and Union 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
$88,958±$14kLowest
7% below CT
$121,926±$23kHighest
27% above CT
Ashford 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
$330,400±$26k
10% below CT
$334,800±$18kHighest
9% below CT
Ashford and Union 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
—
$1,246±$208Lowest
16% below CT
Chaplin and Ashford 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
$4,793
28% below CT
$6,982Highest
5% above CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.6%±27.7Lowest
CT: 52.6%
90%±64.7Highest
CT: 52.6%
47%±26
CT: 52.6%
Union and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
5.7%Highest
CT: 10%
5.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
CT: 66.5%
92.9%Highest
CT: 66.5%
76.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
12 yrs newer than CT
1976Lowest
9 yrs newer than CT
1982Highest
15 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
22% above CT
32 minLowest
20% above CT
34 minHighest
30% above CT
Work from home
18.1%±10
CT: 16%
9%±3.7Lowest
CT: 16%
19.3%±5.5Highest
CT: 16%
Ashford 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 — — #90 of 149 in CT
School district Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Union School District Ashford School District
High school in town Parish Hill High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
7.5
— —
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.