Compare towns
Chaplin vs Hampton vs Meriden vs Ashford
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 oldest population (median age 51.5).
Meriden has the most renters (39.9% rent).
Ashford has the most expensive homes ($335k median).
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 | Hampton | Meriden | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
1,647Lowest |
60,545Highest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | 0% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
38.9±1.3 5% below CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below 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%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±1.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Meriden and Hampton 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 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% CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
22.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±0.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$71,253±$4kLowest 26% below CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
| Ashford 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±$24k 30% below CT |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$241,200±$7kLowest 34% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
| Ashford and Hampton 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 |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,294±$72 13% below CT |
$1,246±$208Lowest 16% below CT |
| Chaplin and Meriden 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 |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$5,129 23% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
53.4%±4.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Meriden 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% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
13.2%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
60.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1982Highest 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
34 minHighest 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Ashford 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 | — | — | #124 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Hampton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Francis T. Maloney High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
— | 16.2Highest |
— |
| 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.