Compare towns
Chaplin vs Hamden vs Mansfield vs Hampton
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).
Hamden has the oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hamden | Mansfield | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
61,045Highest |
25,358 |
1,647Lowest |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
| Hampton and Chaplin 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% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Hampton and Hamden 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% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Chaplin 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% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$109,167±$19kHighest 14% above CT |
| Hampton and Hamden 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 |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,602±$104 8% above CT |
$1,285±$288Lowest 14% below CT |
| Hamden and Mansfield 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 |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Hampton 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% CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
22 min 18% below CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1Lowest CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
| Mansfield 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 | — | #122 of 149 in CT | #45 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Hamden High School | E. O. Smith High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.8 |
— |
| 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.