Compare towns
Chaplin vs Bloomfield vs Ashford vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Bloomfield has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Chaplin | Bloomfield | Ashford | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
21,754Highest |
4,226 |
3,629 |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
48.4±3.3Highest 18% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Bloomfield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
13.7%±2.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 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+ | 20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
27.3%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bloomfield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% CT: 42.5% |
40.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$98,725±$14k 3% above CT |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above 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 | $255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$286,900±$11k 22% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,881±$175Highest 26% above CT |
$1,246±$208Lowest 16% below CT |
— |
| Bloomfield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$5,795 13% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±11.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bloomfield and Ashford 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% |
5.8% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
34 min 30% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
18.2%±3.1 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Ashford and Bloomfield 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 | — | #139 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Bloomfield School District · Capitol Region Education Council | Ashford School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Academy of International Studies 6-12 | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
10.1Highest |
— | — |
| 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.