Compare towns

Hampton vs Sturbridge 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).
Sturbridge has the most expensive homes ($426k 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.

MeasureHamptonSturbridgeChaplinColebrook
People
Population
1,647
9,960Highest
2,070
1,494Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
51.5±5.3
32% above U.S.
47.2±2.6
21% 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%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.9%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Sturbridge 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%
19.8%±3Lowest
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%
49.3%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%
4.6%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
10.1%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
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
35% above U.S.
$136,759±$15kHighest
69% above U.S.
$97,846±$14kLowest
21% above U.S.
$111,250±$17k
38% above U.S.
Sturbridge 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.
$425,800±$18kHighest
28% above U.S.
$255,200±$24kLowest
23% below U.S.
$342,800±$19k
3% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,285±$288
9% below U.S.
$1,193±$398Lowest
16% below U.S.
$1,473±$275Highest
4% above U.S.
$1,333±$626
6% below U.S.
Chaplin and Colebrook 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.
$6,520Highest
109% above U.S.
$4,524
45% above U.S.
$6,211
99% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.5%±51.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
33.6%±27.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±55
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton and Colebrook 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%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1982Highest
2 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.
38 minHighest
43% 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%
19.8%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±10
U.S.: 15.1%
7%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sturbridge 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 — #89 of 282 in MA — —
School district Hampton School District Sturbridge · Tantasqua Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Colebrook School District
High school in town None in town Tantasqua Regional Sr High Parish Hill High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.7Highest
7.5Lowest
—
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.