Compare towns
Union vs Chaplin vs Ashford vs Willington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
Willington has the shortest commute (26 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 | Union | Chaplin | Ashford | Willington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
2,070 |
4,226 |
5,575Highest |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
37.5±7.2Lowest 9% below CT |
| Union and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
12.8%±4.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ashford and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±6.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
33.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
14.6%±6.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Willington and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,958±$14kLowest 7% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$91,114±$12k 5% below CT |
| Ashford and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
$305,800±$48k 17% below CT |
| Ashford and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,246±$208Lowest 16% below CT |
$1,357±$116 9% below CT |
| Chaplin and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793 28% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$5,419 18% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
70%±20.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Willington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
13%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
64%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
26 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
10.5%±4.7 CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Chaplin 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 | — | — | #90 of 149 in CT | #104 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Ashford School District | Willington 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.