Compare towns
Chaplin vs New Haven vs Windham 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%).
New Haven has the most renters (71.6% rent).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | New Haven | Windham | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
134,349Highest |
23,961 |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
31.9±0.5Lowest 22% below CT |
33.7±1.9 18% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Chaplin and Sterling 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% |
21.3%±1 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and New Haven 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% |
11.8%±0.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% CT: 42.5% |
38.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
14.9%±0.8 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Windham and New Haven 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 |
$56,851±$4k 41% below CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
| Sterling and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$287,100±$16kHighest 22% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| New Haven and Sterling 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 |
$1,488±$33Highest about the CT average |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
— |
| New Haven 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 |
$6,430Highest 3% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±3.2 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and New Haven 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% |
23.9%Highest CT: 10% |
20.7% CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
28.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
47.4% CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1954Lowest 13 yrs older than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above CT |
22 minLowest 19% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±1.6 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and New Haven 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 | — | #145 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Common Ground High School District · Elm City Montessori School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Wilbur Cross High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
13.7Highest |
9.8 |
— |
| 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.