Compare towns
Franklin vs Putnam vs Chaplin vs Ashford
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).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Putnam | Chaplin | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,004Lowest |
9,292Highest |
2,070 |
4,226 |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Ashford 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% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Ashford 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 |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
| Ashford 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 |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
| Ashford 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 |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
| Chaplin and Ashford 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 |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
47%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Ashford and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Ashford 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | — | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Franklin School District | Putnam School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.