Compare towns
Chaplin vs Hampton vs Plainfield vs Thomaston
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).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Plainfield | Thomaston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
1,647Lowest |
15,141Highest |
7,492 |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
| 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% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
34%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%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Plainfield 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±$19kHighest 14% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
| Hampton and Thomaston 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 |
$295,800±$27kHighest 19% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
| Hampton and Thomaston 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 |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% 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 |
$4,364 34% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin 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 | — | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Hampton School District | Plainfield School District | Thomaston School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Plainfield High School | Thomaston High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
— | 10.3 |
10.7Highest |
| 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.