Compare towns
Chaplin vs Willimantic vs Hamden
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 homeowners (82.9%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Hamden has the most expensive homes ($298k 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 | Willimantic | Hamden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
18,096 |
61,045Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
38.7±0.9 6% below CT |
| Chaplin and Hamden 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% |
17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Willimantic and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Hamden 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% |
47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Lowest CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$98,306±$7kHighest about the CT average |
| Hamden 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±$24k 30% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$298,200±$9kHighest 19% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
| Hamden and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,678 30% below CT |
$7,784Highest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Willimantic and Hamden 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% |
9.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
62.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above CT |
23 min 12% below CT |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Hamden 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 | — | — | #122 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | — | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | — | Hamden High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.