Compare towns
Chaplin vs Middlefield 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).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (25 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 | Middlefield | Ashford | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
4,243Highest |
4,226 |
3,629 |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest 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% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield 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% |
41.5%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% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Middlefield 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 |
$99,837±$20k 4% 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 |
$376,000±$27kHighest about the CT average |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Middlefield and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,246±$208Lowest 16% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,853 3% above 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% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield 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% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older 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 |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
34 min 30% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Ashford 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 | — | #65 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Regional School District 13 | Ashford 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 |
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.