Compare towns
Franklin vs Baltic vs Chaplin vs Voluntown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Baltic has the most renters (62.2% rent).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Franklin | Baltic | Chaplin | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,004 |
1,157Lowest |
2,070 |
2,604Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
37.8±15.8Lowest 8% below CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
48.3±1.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Voluntown and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.5%±10.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
15.6%±5.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3 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+ | 27.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
16.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
0.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6 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 | $105,000±$10kHighest 10% above CT |
$68,958±$47kLowest 28% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$101,964±$25k 6% 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 | $326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
$196,200±$27kLowest 47% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$356,100±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Voluntown and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,247±$141 16% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,166±$191 22% below CT |
| Chaplin and Baltic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,934 41% below CT |
$3,799Lowest 43% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$4,955Highest 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
29.3%±13.7 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3Highest 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 | 8.7% CT: 10% |
11.6%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
7.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
37.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 6% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4 CT: 16% |
5.2%±4.6Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4 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 | Franklin School District | — | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.5 |
— |
| 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.