Compare towns
Chaplin vs Shelton vs Hampton vs Voluntown
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).
Shelton has the most expensive homes ($453k median).
Hampton has the most homeowners (90%).
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 | Shelton | Hampton | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
41,889Highest |
1,647Lowest |
2,604 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
44.5±1.5 8% above CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
48.3±1.7 18% above CT |
| Hampton and Voluntown 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% |
18.9%±1.7 CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Hampton and Shelton 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% |
21.4%±1.5 CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±1 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Shelton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$108,185±$11k 13% above CT |
$109,167±$19kHighest 14% above CT |
$101,964±$25k 6% above CT |
| Hampton and Shelton 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 |
$452,600±$13kHighest 23% above CT |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$356,100±$16k about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,741±$216Highest 17% above CT |
$1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,166±$191Lowest 22% below CT |
| Shelton 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 |
$5,409Highest 19% below CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$4,955 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.8%±9.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Shelton 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% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
7.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
76.5%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1977Lowest 10 yrs newer than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
30 min 14% above CT |
29 minLowest 9% above CT |
31 min 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest 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 | — | #71 of 149 in CT | — | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Shelton School District | Hampton School District | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Shelton High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— | — |
| 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.