Compare towns
Chaplin vs Hampton vs Thomaston vs Union
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 highest household income ($109k).
Thomaston has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Union has the most expensive homes ($330k 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 | Thomaston | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
1,647 |
7,492Highest |
944Lowest |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
41.5±7.7Lowest about the CT average |
49.9±4.3 21% above CT |
| Hampton and Union 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6 CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Union 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% |
34%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Thomaston 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 |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$88,958±$14kLowest 7% below 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±$27k 19% below CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
| Union 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 |
$1,037±$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 |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Thomaston 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%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
90% CT: 66.5% |
77.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
9%±3.7 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 | — | — | #106 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Hampton School District | Thomaston School District | Union School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Thomaston High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
— | 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.