Compare towns
Thompson vs Union vs Chaplin vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Union has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Canterbury has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Thompson | Union | Chaplin | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,337Highest |
944Lowest |
2,070 |
5,124 |
| Median age | 54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
49.9±4.3 21% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
48.4±4.5 18% above CT |
| Thompson and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5 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+ | 24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
25.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Canterbury and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
26.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±2 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 | $93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$103,198±$6kHighest 8% above CT |
| Canterbury and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$334,200±$12kHighest 9% below CT |
| Canterbury and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,012±$344 32% below CT |
— | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
| Chaplin and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,793Highest 28% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$4,140 38% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±18.7 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
40%±13 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above CT |
32 minLowest 20% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
32 minLowest 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Canterbury 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | — | — | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Thompson School District | Union School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Canterbury School District |
| High school in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.9Highest |
— | 7.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.