Compare towns
Franklin vs Washington 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).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
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 | Washington | Chaplin | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,004Lowest |
3,676 |
2,070 |
4,226Highest |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
| Washington 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% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Washington 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Washington 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 |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest 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 |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% 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 | $3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,709 29% 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% |
26.1%±24 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
47%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Ashford 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% |
9%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer 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 |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5 CT: 16% |
| Washington and Ashford 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 | — | #17 of 149 in CT | — | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Franklin School District | Regional School District 12 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1Highest |
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.