Compare towns
Vernon vs Chaplin vs Brooklyn vs Ellington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has the most renters (46.8% rent).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Brooklyn has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Ellington has the highest household income ($130k).
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 | Vernon | Chaplin | Brooklyn | Ellington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,577Highest |
2,070Lowest |
8,517 |
16,455 |
| Median age | 39.4±2.5Lowest 4% below CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
45.6±2.5Highest 11% above CT |
40.9±2.4 about the CT average |
| Brooklyn and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.6%±4.6 CT: 20.2% |
24%±3.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Ellington and Brooklyn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38% CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
23.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
51.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.8%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,356±$6kLowest 11% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$96,207±$15k about the CT average |
$129,913±$17kHighest 36% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $275,500±$11k 25% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$315,200±$28k 14% below CT |
$366,900±$17kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$77 4% below CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,125±$98Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,737±$212Highest 17% above CT |
| Ellington and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,804 13% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,538 32% below CT |
$6,751Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.3%±5.7 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
38.5%±19.3 CT: 52.6% |
45.5%±10.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Ellington and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.7% CT: 66.5% |
72.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1978 11 yrs newer than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.4%±2.5 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
10.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Ellington 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 | #107 of 149 in CT | — | #113 of 149 in CT | #46 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Vernon School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Brooklyn School District | Ellington School District |
| High school in town | Rockville High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Ellington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— | 10.3 |
| 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.