Compare towns
Thomaston vs Chaplin vs Union vs Watertown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Watertown has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Thomaston | Chaplin | Union | Watertown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,492 |
2,070 |
944Lowest |
22,253Highest |
| Median age | 41.5±7.7Lowest about the CT average |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
46.3±2.9 13% above CT |
| Union and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
17.7%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,218±$15kHighest 8% above CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% below CT |
$101,691±$7k 6% above CT |
| Thomaston and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$333,500±$16kHighest 9% below CT |
| Watertown and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
— | $1,275±$227 14% below CT |
| Chaplin and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,915 11% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
$6,014Highest 9% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±13.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
4.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
24 minLowest 10% below CT |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7 CT: 16% |
10.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Watertown 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | — | — | #126 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thomaston School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Union School District | Watertown School District |
| High school in town | Thomaston High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Watertown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.