Compare towns
Beacon Falls 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
Beacon Falls has the most expensive homes ($350k median).
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 | Beacon Falls | Chaplin | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,147Highest |
2,070Lowest |
3,629 |
| Median age | 48.4±3.8Highest 18% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
| Beacon Falls and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
| Sterling and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,300±$34kHighest 5% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$1,473±$275Lowest about the CT average |
— |
| Beacon Falls and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,534Highest about the CT average |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±30.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Beacon Falls and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 18 yrs newer than CT |
1979Lowest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above CT |
32 minLowest 22% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls 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 | #77 of 149 in CT | — | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Woodland Regional High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.