Compare towns
Washington vs Union vs Chaplin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
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 | Washington | Union | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,676Highest |
944Lowest |
2,070 |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Washington and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,549±$16kHighest 6% above CT |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
| Washington and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$330,400±$26k 10% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264Lowest 19% below CT |
— | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709 29% below CT |
$4,793Highest 28% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Union School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | None in town | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Highest |
— | 7.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.