Compare towns
South Windham vs Chaplin vs Willimantic vs Voluntown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Windham has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Voluntown has the most expensive homes ($356k 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 | South Windham | Chaplin | Willimantic | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,281Lowest |
2,070 |
18,096Highest |
2,604 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | +2.3%Highest CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±16.3 4% below CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
48.3±1.7Highest 18% above CT |
| Voluntown and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28.4%±10Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| South Windham and Willimantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±5.2 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
26.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±5.9 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,045±$16k 22% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$101,964±$25kHighest 6% above CT |
| Voluntown and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $214,100±$50k 42% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$356,100±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,341±$133 10% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,166±$191 22% below CT |
| Chaplin and South Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,491Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$4,955Highest 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±34.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.4% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
7.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80% CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 22 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1953 14 yrs older than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±8.4 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and South Windham 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 | — | — | — | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | — | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | — | Parish Hill High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5 |
— | — |
| 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.