What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ellington has the most kids (24% under 18).

Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ellington	Chaplin
People
Population	16,455Highest	2,070Lowest
Median age	40.9±2.4Lowest about the CT average	43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT
	Chaplin and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2%	15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2%
Age 65+	18.8%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5%	20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5%
	Chaplin and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.4%Highest CT: 42.5%	25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6%±2.2Lowest CT: 7.1%	10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1%
	Chaplin and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT	$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average	$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT	$1,473±$275Lowest about the CT average
	Ellington and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,751Highest about the CT average	$4,524Lowest 32% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±10.3Highest CT: 52.6%	33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Ellington and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.4%Lowest CT: 10%	5.4%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.2%Lowest CT: 66.5%	82.9%Highest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT	1979Lowest 12 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 18% above CT	32 minHighest 22% above CT
Work from home	18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16%	18.1%±10Lowest CT: 16%
	Ellington 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	#46 of 149 in CT	—
School district	Ellington School District	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town	Ellington High School	Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Highest	7.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.