Compare towns
Chaplin vs Plainfield vs Hampton vs Mansfield
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).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
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 | Plainfield | Hampton | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
15,141 |
1,647Lowest |
25,358Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
37±4.5 10% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% 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%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Hampton and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8k 20% below CT |
$109,167±$19kHighest 14% above CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
| Hampton and Chaplin 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 |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
| Mansfield and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
| Mansfield and Chaplin 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 |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,364 34% below CT |
$5,727Highest 14% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
29 min 9% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | — | #45 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Plainfield School District | Hampton School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Plainfield High School | None in town | E. O. Smith High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
10.3 |
— | 11.8Highest |
| 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.