Compare towns

Chaplin vs Voluntown 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%).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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.

MeasureChaplinVoluntownFranklin
People
Population
2,070
2,604Highest
2,004Lowest
Median age
43.7±4.8
6% above CT
48.3±1.7Highest
18% above CT
40.3±4.3Lowest
about the CT average
Voluntown 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%
16.4%±3.5
CT: 20.2%
27.2%±5.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
Age 65+
20.9%±4.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
17.6%±3
CT: 18.5%
17.4%±1.9Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Chaplin and Voluntown 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%
26.7%
CT: 42.5%
27.8%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.1%±6.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.4%±1.6Lowest
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
Chaplin and Franklin 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
$101,964±$25k
6% above CT
$105,000±$10kHighest
10% above CT
Franklin 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
$356,100±$16kHighest
about the CT average
$326,200±$20k
11% below CT
Voluntown and Franklin 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
$1,166±$191
22% below CT
$767±$529Lowest
48% below CT
Chaplin and Voluntown 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
$4,955Highest
25% below CT
$3,934Lowest
41% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.6%±27.7
CT: 52.6%
42.9%±24.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
19.5%±18.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Voluntown and Chaplin 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%
7.3%
CT: 10%
8.7%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
83.5%
CT: 66.5%
84.1%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
12 yrs newer than CT
1983Highest
16 yrs newer than CT
1973Lowest
6 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
22% above CT
31 min
18% above CT
27 minLowest
about the CT average
Work from home
18.1%±10Highest
CT: 16%
8.9%±5.4
CT: 16%
6.8%±2.4Lowest
CT: 16%
Chaplin and Voluntown 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 — #53 of 149 in CT —
School district Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Voluntown School District Franklin 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.