Compare towns
Salem vs Union vs Chaplin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Salem | Union | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,282Highest |
944Lowest |
2,070 |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% 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 | 23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 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+ | 50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,440±$150Lowest 3% below CT |
— | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,668Highest about the CT average |
$4,793 28% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 19% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Salem 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Salem School District | Union 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.