Compare towns
Canterbury vs Chaplin vs Hampton vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canterbury has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Hampton has the most kids (19.7% under 18).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Canterbury | Chaplin | Hampton | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,124 |
2,070 |
1,647Lowest |
5,300Highest |
| Median age | 48.4±4.5 18% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
| Hampton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Hampton and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2% CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,198±$6k 8% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
| Columbia and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,200±$12k 9% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Columbia and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $924±$367Lowest 38% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$966±$304 35% below CT |
| Chaplin and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,140Lowest 38% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$4,364 34% below CT |
$5,228Highest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±13 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Hampton and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 8 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
29 minLowest 9% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 14.7%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia 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 | #125 of 149 in CT | — | — | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canterbury School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Hampton School District | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5 |
— | — |
| 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.