Compare towns
Canterbury vs Hampton vs Windham vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most homeowners (90%).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
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 | Hampton | Windham | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,124 |
1,647Lowest |
23,961Highest |
5,300 |
| Median age | 48.4±4.5 18% above CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below 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% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Windham and Hampton 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest 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% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
22.7%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,198±$6k 8% above CT |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below 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 |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% 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 |
$1,285±$288Highest 14% below CT |
$1,107±$69 26% below CT |
$966±$304 35% below CT |
| Hampton and Windham 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 |
$4,364 34% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$5,228Highest 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±13 CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Hampton 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% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
6.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 8 yrs newer than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
| Work from home | 14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Hampton 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 | — | #143 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Canterbury School District | Hampton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.