Compare towns
Hampton vs Lancaster vs Putnam vs Chaplin
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 oldest population (median age 51.5).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Hampton | Lancaster | Putnam | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,647Lowest |
8,606 |
9,292Highest |
2,070 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest 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%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Chaplin 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Putnam 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Hampton 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. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,364 40% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,524 45% 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% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Hampton School District | Nashoba | Putnam School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5Highest |
7.5Lowest |
| 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.