Compare towns
Ashford vs Colebrook 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 highest household income ($122k).
Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
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 | Colebrook | Chaplin | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,226Highest |
1,494Lowest |
2,070 |
3,629 |
| Median age | 37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Colebrook and Chaplin 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% |
17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Ashford 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% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook and Chaplin 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% |
36.6%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% |
5.4%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| 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 | $121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
$111,250±$17k 16% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Ashford and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
$342,800±$19kHighest 7% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Colebrook and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,246±$208Lowest 16% below CT |
$1,333±$626 10% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
— |
| Chaplin and Colebrook 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 |
$6,211 7% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47%±26Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Ashford and Colebrook 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% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1960Lowest 7 yrs older 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 |
34 min 29% above CT |
32 minLowest 22% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
7%±3.8Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 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 | — | — | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Ashford School District | Colebrook School District | 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.