Compare towns
Chaplin vs Middlefield vs Franklin 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 people working from home (18.1%).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Sterling has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
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 | Franklin | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070 |
4,243Highest |
2,004Lowest |
3,629 |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Sterling 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% |
17.4%±1.9 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% |
27.8% 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% |
4.2%±1.4 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 |
$105,000±$10kHighest 10% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Franklin 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 |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524 32% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below 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% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield 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% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
84.1% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1973 6 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 |
27 min about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Sterling 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 | — | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Regional School District 13 | Franklin 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.