Compare towns
Chaplin vs Killingly vs Sterling vs Washington
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).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
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 | Killingly | Sterling | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
17,867Highest |
3,629 |
3,676 |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
| Washington and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Killingly 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% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Washington 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 about the CT average |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
| Sterling and Washington 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 |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— | $1,204±$264 19% below CT |
| Chaplin and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524 32% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$4,709Highest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Chaplin 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% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | — | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #17 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District | Regional School District 12 |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Killingly High School | None in town | Shepaug Valley School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— | 9.1 |
| 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.