Compare towns
Hamden vs Colebrook vs Chaplin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamden has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k 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 | Hamden | Colebrook | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,045Highest |
1,494Lowest |
2,070 |
| Median age | 38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
| Colebrook and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±1.5 CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Colebrook and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±1.3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
36.6% CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Hamden and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,306±$7k about the CT average |
$111,250±$17kHighest 16% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
| Colebrook and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$342,800±$19kHighest 7% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,333±$626Lowest 10% below CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
| Hamden and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,784Highest 17% above CT |
$6,211 7% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±5.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Hamden and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest 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 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Colebrook School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | Hamden High School | None in town | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 7.5Lowest |
| 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.