Compare towns

Chaplin vs Hanover vs Windham 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 oldest population (median age 43.7).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($755k median).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).

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.

MeasureChaplinHanoverWindhamSterling
People
Population
2,070Lowest
14,845
23,961Highest
3,629
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
43.7±4.8Highest
12% above U.S.
41.8±1.4
7% above U.S.
33.7±1.9Lowest
13% below U.S.
39.4±5.9
about the U.S. average
Chaplin and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.7%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±5.9
U.S.: 22%
Hanover and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
14.3%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Chaplin and Hanover 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%
56.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
18%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.1%±6.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
15.2%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Windham and Chaplin 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.
$189,803±$23kHighest
135% above U.S.
$55,736±$5kLowest
31% below U.S.
$102,695±$12k
27% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$255,200±$24k
23% below U.S.
$755,400±$39kHighest
127% above U.S.
$209,800±$9kLowest
37% below U.S.
$283,400±$17k
15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,473±$275
4% above U.S.
$1,845±$341Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,107±$69Lowest
22% below U.S.
—
Hanover and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,524Lowest
45% above U.S.
$9,342Highest
200% above U.S.
$4,633
49% above U.S.
$4,551
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.6%±27.7
U.S.: 51.1%
65%±23.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.1%±8.1
U.S.: 51.1%
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
20.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
47.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
23% above U.S.
32 min
21% above U.S.
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±10
U.S.: 15.1%
19.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.1%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Hanover 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 — #69 of 282 in MA #143 of 149 in CT #119 of 149 in CT
School district Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Sterling School District
High school in town Parish Hill High School South Shore Vocational Technical High Windham High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
7.5Lowest
10.3Highest
9.8
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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.