Compare towns
Chaplin vs Mansfield vs Thomaston 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).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Thomaston has the oldest housing (typical home built 1961).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Thomaston | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
25,358Highest |
7,492 |
3,629 |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Chaplin and Thomaston 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% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Thomaston 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% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$103,218±$15kHighest 8% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Thomaston 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 |
$335,400±$20kHighest 9% below CT |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
— |
| Mansfield 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 |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$5,915Highest 11% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Mansfield 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 | — | #45 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Thomaston School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | E. O. Smith High School | Thomaston High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
11.8Highest |
10.7 |
— |
| 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.