Compare towns
Ashford vs Chaplin vs Killingly 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 highest household income ($122k).
Chaplin has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Chaplin | Killingly | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226 |
2,070Lowest |
17,867Highest |
3,629 |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Chaplin and Killingly 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% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Killingly 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% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Ashford and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208 16% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— |
| Chaplin and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Ashford and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
28 minLowest 5% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 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 | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| 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.