Compare towns

Chaplin vs Willimantic vs Ashford vs Hampton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Ashford has the most expensive homes ($335k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).

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.

MeasureChaplinWillimanticAshfordHampton
People
Population
2,070
18,096Highest
4,226
1,647Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.3%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
43.7±4.8
6% above CT
31.3±2.7Lowest
24% below CT
37.9±10.3
8% below CT
51.5±5.3Highest
25% above 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%
20.6%±2.5Highest
CT: 20.2%
18.5%±5.5
CT: 20.2%
19.7%±5.3
CT: 20.2%
Willimantic 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%
11%±1.7Lowest
CT: 18.5%
18.9%±3.7
CT: 18.5%
26.1%±2.1Highest
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%
24.2%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
35.3%Highest
CT: 42.5%
29.9%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.1%±6.2
CT: 7.1%
19.1%±2.1Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.4%±1.7
CT: 7.1%
1.9%±1.1Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,846±$14k
about the CT average
$45,962±$7kLowest
52% below CT
$121,926±$23kHighest
27% above CT
$109,167±$19k
14% 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
$190,900±$17kLowest
48% below CT
$334,800±$18kHighest
9% below CT
$295,800±$27k
19% 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
$1,063±$68Lowest
29% below CT
$1,246±$208
16% below CT
$1,285±$288
14% 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
$4,678
30% below CT
$6,982Highest
5% above CT
$4,364Lowest
34% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.6%±27.7Lowest
CT: 52.6%
55.9%±8.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
47%±26
CT: 52.6%
52.5%±51.5
CT: 52.6%
Willimantic 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%
23.4%Highest
CT: 10%
5.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
5.7%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
CT: 66.5%
34.9%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
76.8%
CT: 66.5%
90%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
12 yrs newer than CT
1953Lowest
14 yrs older than CT
1982Highest
15 yrs newer than CT
1980
13 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
22% above CT
23 minLowest
12% below CT
34 minHighest
30% above CT
29 min
9% above CT
Work from home
18.1%±10
CT: 16%
6.2%±2Lowest
CT: 16%
19.3%±5.5Highest
CT: 16%
17.7%±5.1
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 — — #90 of 149 in CT —
School district Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 — Ashford School District Hampton School District
High school in town Parish Hill High School — None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
7.5
— — —
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.