Compare towns
Hampton vs Shirley vs Colebrook 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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Shirley has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
Colebrook has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Shirley | Colebrook | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,647 |
6,976Highest |
1,494Lowest |
2,070 |
| 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. |
52.1±5Highest 34% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Lowest 12% 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% |
17.9%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest 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% |
26%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 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% |
36.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest 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% |
5.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest 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. |
$111,250±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% 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. |
$342,800±$19k 3% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,285±$288Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,481±$421Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,333±$626 6% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above 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. |
$6,211Highest 99% above U.S. |
$4,524 45% 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% |
42.1%±55 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 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 | Colebrook School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School |
| 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.