Compare towns
Hampton vs Lancaster vs Chaplin vs Colebrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Colebrook has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Hampton | Lancaster | Chaplin | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,647 |
8,606Highest |
2,070 |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3 32% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Colebrook and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$111,250±$17k 38% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$342,800±$19k 3% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,333±$626 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
$6,211 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Hampton School District | Nashoba | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | 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 |
U.S. 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.