Compare towns
Franklin vs Chester vs Chaplin
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).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
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.
| Measure | Franklin | Chester | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,004Lowest |
3,825Highest |
2,070 |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3Lowest about the CT average |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Chester and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest 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±$10k 10% above CT |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
| Chester and Franklin 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 |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
| Chester and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Chester 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% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1969Lowest 2 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
28 min 7% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
| Chester 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 | — | #8 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Franklin School District | Chester School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School |
| 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.