Compare towns
Sprague vs Chaplin vs Union vs Voluntown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sprague has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Sprague | Chaplin | Union | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962Highest |
2,070 |
944Lowest |
2,604 |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
48.3±1.7 18% above CT |
| Union and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Sprague and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3Lowest 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+ | 19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
26.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% 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 | $273,500±$17k 25% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$356,100±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Voluntown and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
— | $1,166±$191Lowest 22% below CT |
| Chaplin and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,668 30% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
$4,955Highest 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
7.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7 CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Union 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 | #141 of 149 in CT | — | — | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Union School District | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | 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.