Compare towns
Hampton vs Putnam vs Thompson vs Chaplin
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 highest household income ($109k).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Hampton | Putnam | Thompson | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,647Lowest |
9,292 |
9,337Highest |
2,070 |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3 25% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
| Thompson 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% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Hampton and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| 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±$19kHighest 14% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$93,629±$18k about the CT average |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
| Hampton and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,800±$27kHighest 19% below CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
| Hampton and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,364 34% below CT |
$3,860 42% below CT |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,524Highest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson 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% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.3% CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 13 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1963 4 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Hampton School District | Putnam School District | Thompson School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Highest |
7.9 |
7.5Lowest |
| 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.