Compare towns
Hampton vs Shirley 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).
Shirley has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
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 | Shirley | Chaplin | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,647 |
6,976Highest |
2,070 |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±5.3 32% above U.S. |
44.3±3.4 14% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Lowest 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% |
16.4%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton and Colebrook 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% |
19.8%±5.1Lowest 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% |
36.7%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% |
5.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.8 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±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$122,365±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$111,250±$17k 38% above U.S. |
| Shirley 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. |
$427,600±$36kHighest 29% 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. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,333±$626 6% below U.S. |
| Shirley and Chaplin 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. |
$5,156 65% above U.S. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
$6,211Highest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Shirley 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer 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. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Hampton School District | Ayer Shirley 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 |
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.