Compare towns
Mansfield vs Chaplin vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Chaplin | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,358Highest |
2,070 |
944Lowest |
| Median age | 21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
| Union and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Union and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$97,846±$14kHighest about the CT average |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
| Chaplin and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
| Mansfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,473±$275Lowest about the CT average |
— |
| Mansfield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,727Highest 14% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76%±9.6 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Mansfield 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 | #45 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Union School District |
| High school in town | E. O. Smith High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.