Compare towns
Ashford vs Hamden vs Chaplin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Ashford | Hamden | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,226 |
61,045Highest |
2,070Lowest |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
| Chaplin and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Ashford and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3% CT: 42.5% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Hamden and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
| Ashford and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Lowest 16% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
| Hamden and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982 5% above CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 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 | #122 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Ashford School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamden High School | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
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.