Compare towns
Hampton vs Preston vs Chaplin vs Colebrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most kids (19.7% under 18).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Preston | Chaplin | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,647 |
4,821Highest |
2,070 |
1,494Lowest |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3 25% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Hampton and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
| 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% CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| 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 14% above CT |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$111,250±$17k 16% above CT |
| Preston 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 19% below CT |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$342,800±$19k 7% below CT |
| Preston and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288Lowest 14% below CT |
$1,433±$1k 4% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,333±$626 10% below CT |
| Chaplin and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin 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 | — | #93 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Hampton School District | Preston School District | 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 |
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.