Compare towns
Chaplin vs Columbia vs Hampton vs Ashford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Hampton has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Ashford has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
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 | Chaplin | Columbia | Hampton | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
5,300Highest |
1,647Lowest |
4,226 |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
| Hampton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Hampton and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.9%±5.4 CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34.6% CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 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 | $97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$121,926±$23k 27% above CT |
| Columbia and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
| Columbia and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,246±$208 16% 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 | $4,524 32% below CT |
$5,228 21% below CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Hampton 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% |
6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
29 minLowest 9% above CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Lowest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5 CT: 16% |
| Columbia and Ashford 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 | — | #114 of 149 in CT | — | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Columbia School District | Hampton School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | 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.