Compare towns
Ashford vs Bethany vs Chaplin vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashford has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Ashford | Bethany | Chaplin | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
5,288Highest |
2,070Lowest |
3,629 |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Chaplin and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3% CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23k 27% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Lowest 16% below CT |
— | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
— |
| Chaplin and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982 5% above CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Ashford and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above CT |
32 minLowest 21% above CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ashford 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 | #90 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | — | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Sterling 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 |
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.