Compare towns
Columbia vs Hampton vs East Haddam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
East Haddam has the youngest population (median age 50).
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 | Columbia | Hampton | East Haddam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300 |
1,647Lowest |
8,969Highest |
| Median age | 51.3±10.3 25% above CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
50±2.9Lowest 22% above CT |
| Hampton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.2%±3.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Hampton and East Haddam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
25.6%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and East Haddam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% CT: 42.5% |
29.9%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
38.1%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.5 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
| East Haddam and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$109,167±$19k 14% above CT |
$107,861±$9kLowest 13% above CT |
| Columbia and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$295,800±$27kLowest 19% below CT |
$352,700±$24k 4% below CT |
| Columbia and East Haddam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,285±$288Highest 14% below CT |
$1,242±$331 17% below CT |
| Hampton and East Haddam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,228 21% below CT |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$5,724Highest 14% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
26%±13 CT: 52.6% |
| Hampton and East Haddam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
4.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
88.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
29 minLowest 9% above CT |
30 min 14% above CT |
| Work from home | 21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±3.5 CT: 16% |
| Columbia and East Haddam 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 | #114 of 149 in CT | — | #68 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Columbia School District | Hampton School District | East Haddam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Nathan Hale-Ray High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.9 |
| 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.