Compare towns
Chaplin vs Plainfield vs Sterling vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k 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 | Plainfield | Sterling | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
15,141Highest |
3,629 |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
44.3±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
18% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Plainfield 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 21% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
— | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524 45% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | — | #131 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Plainfield School District | Sterling School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Plainfield High School | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
10.3 |
— | 12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.