Compare towns

Chaplin vs Windham vs Willimantic 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%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
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.

MeasureChaplinWindhamWillimanticFranklin
People
Population
2,070
23,961Highest
18,096
2,004Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
+2.3%
CT: +0.9%
—
Median age
43.7±4.8Highest
6% above CT
33.7±1.9
18% below CT
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
40.3±4.3
about the CT average
Chaplin and Franklin 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%
20.1%±2.4
CT: 20.2%
20.6%±2.5
CT: 20.2%
27.2%±5.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
Franklin and Willimantic 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%
14.3%±1.9
CT: 18.5%
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
17.4%±1.9
CT: 18.5%
Chaplin and Franklin 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%
22.7%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
24.2%
CT: 42.5%
27.8%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.1%±6.2
CT: 7.1%
15.2%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Willimantic and Windham 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
$55,736±$5k
42% below CT
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
$105,000±$10kHighest
10% above CT
Franklin 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±$24k
30% below CT
$209,800±$9k
43% below CT
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
$326,200±$20kHighest
11% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,473±$275Highest
about the CT average
$1,107±$69
26% below CT
$1,063±$68
29% below CT
$767±$529Lowest
48% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,524
32% below CT
$4,633
30% below CT
$4,678Highest
30% below CT
$3,934Lowest
41% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.6%±27.7
CT: 52.6%
57.1%±8.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
55.9%±8.1
CT: 52.6%
19.5%±18.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Windham and Willimantic 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%
20.7%
CT: 10%
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
8.7%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
CT: 66.5%
47.4%
CT: 66.5%
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
84.1%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
1956
11 yrs older than CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
1973
6 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
22% above CT
24 min
8% below CT
23 minLowest
12% below CT
27 min
about the CT average
Work from home
18.1%±10Highest
CT: 16%
6.1%±1.7Lowest
CT: 16%
6.2%±2
CT: 16%
6.8%±2.4
CT: 16%
Chaplin and Franklin 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 — #143 of 149 in CT — —
School district Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS — Franklin School District
High school in town Parish Hill High School Windham High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
7.5Lowest
9.8Highest
— —
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.