Compare towns
Cheshire vs Hampton vs Prospect
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cheshire has the most expensive homes ($440k median).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Prospect has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Cheshire | Hampton | Prospect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 29,040Highest |
1,647Lowest |
9,458 |
| Median age | 44.9±1.4Lowest 9% above CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
| Hampton and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±2.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
| Cheshire and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±1.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
29.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Cheshire and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,528±$12kHighest 53% above CT |
$109,167±$19kLowest 14% above CT |
$126,394±$18k 32% above CT |
| Cheshire and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,000±$17kHighest 20% above CT |
$295,800±$27kLowest 19% below CT |
$355,400±$21k 3% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,398±$116 6% below CT |
$1,285±$288Lowest 14% below CT |
$1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
| Prospect and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,755Highest 17% above CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$6,504 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±6.3Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
45.3%±31.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Hampton and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% CT: 10% |
5.7%Highest CT: 10% |
3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90% CT: 66.5% |
93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1974Lowest 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.1%±2.7Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
| Cheshire 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 | #18 of 149 in CT | — | #50 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Cheshire School District | Hampton School District | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | Cheshire High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.