Compare towns
Chaplin vs Columbia vs Hampton vs Scotland
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 expensive homes ($362k median).
Hampton has the most kids (19.7% under 18).
Scotland has the most homeowners (91.8%).
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 | Scotland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
5,300Highest |
1,647 |
1,599Lowest |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
44.7±5 9% 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 | 15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3 CT: 20.2% |
| Hampton and Scotland 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% |
18.6%±2.6Lowest 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
33.8% 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% |
5.8%±4 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Scotland 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 |
$99,881±$12k 4% 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 | $255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$294,100±$20k 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,188±$468 20% 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 |
$6,175Highest 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2 CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±75.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Hampton and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
4.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
90% CT: 66.5% |
91.8%Highest 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 |
33 minHighest 24% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
11.5%±6.2Lowest 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 | — | #114 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Columbia School District | Hampton School District | Scotland 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.