Compare towns
Chaplin vs Brookfield vs Hampton vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($342k median).
Hampton has the shortest commute (29 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 | Chaplin | Brookfield | Hampton | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
3,460 |
1,647Lowest |
3,629Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3 32% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Brookfield and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$81,250±$37kLowest about the U.S. average |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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 23% below U.S. |
$341,900±$23kHighest about the U.S. average |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Brookfield and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
— |
| Chaplin and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524 45% above U.S. |
$5,092Highest 63% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Hampton 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 | — | #109 of 282 in MA | — | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Brookfield | Hampton School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | None in town | 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 |
U.S. 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.