Compare towns
Voluntown vs Chaplin vs Exeter vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($509k median).
Plainfield has the most renters (26.4% rent).
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 | Voluntown | Chaplin | Exeter | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,604 |
2,070Lowest |
7,195 |
15,141Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.3±1.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9 3% below U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Voluntown and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,964±$25k 26% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,100±$16k 7% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$509,200±$43kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$191Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,955 59% above U.S. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
$5,881Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±24.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 19% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Exeter 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 | #53 of 149 in CT | — | #14 of 38 in RI | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Voluntown School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Exeter-West Greenwich | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
— | 10.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.