Compare towns
Franklin vs Columbia 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).
Columbia has the highest household income ($127k).
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 | Columbia | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,004Lowest |
5,300Highest |
2,070 |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3Lowest about the CT average |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
| Columbia 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% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia 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% |
34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Columbia 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 |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
| Columbia 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 |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
| Columbia 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 |
$966±$304 35% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Columbia 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 |
$5,228Highest 21% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.5%±18.4 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Chaplin and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 min 21% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
| Columbia 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 | — | #114 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Franklin School District | Columbia 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.