Compare towns
Voluntown vs Windsor vs Chaplin vs Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Windsor has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Windsor | Chaplin | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,604 |
29,468Highest |
2,070Lowest |
4,821 |
| Median age | 48.3±1.7Highest 18% above CT |
43.7±1.9Lowest 6% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
| Voluntown and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
19.2%±2.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Windsor and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20%±2 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.7% CT: 42.5% |
43.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Windsor 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 6% above CT |
$104,725±$8k 9% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
| Preston and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,100±$16k about the CT average |
$305,200±$11k 17% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
| Preston and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$191Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,681±$62Highest 13% above CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
| Windsor and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,955 25% below CT |
$5,351Highest 19% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest CT: 10% |
6.7% CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% CT: 66.5% |
82.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above CT |
21 minLowest 19% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
16.1%±3.2 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Windsor 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 | #117 of 149 in CT | — | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Voluntown School District | Capitol Region Education Council · Windsor School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Preston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windsor High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.2Highest |
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.