Compare towns
Chaplin vs Putnam 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%).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
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 | Putnam | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
7,120Highest |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
| Chaplin and Putnam 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% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Putnam 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% |
17%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18.8% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Putnam 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 |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% 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 |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$283,400±$17kHighest 23% below CT |
| Sterling and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,147±$43Lowest 23% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524 32% below CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$4,551Highest 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Putnam 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% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above CT |
25 minLowest 5% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | — | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.