Compare towns
Hampton vs Shirley vs Chaplin vs Pomfret
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).
Shirley has the most renters (36.8% rent).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Pomfret has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Shirley | Chaplin | Pomfret |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,647 |
1,146Lowest |
2,070 |
4,317Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.2±14.6 14% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7 18% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Pomfret are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±8.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pomfret and Hampton 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% |
15.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5 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% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±6.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Shirley 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 35% above U.S. |
$108,494±$62k 34% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$108,476±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Shirley 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. |
$395,800±$50k 19% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$409,100±$28kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$982±$797Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,210±$300 14% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$4,398 41% above U.S. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±15 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shirley 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 | — | #239 of 282 in MA | — | #39 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Hampton School District | — | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Pomfret School District |
| High school 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.