Compare towns
Chaplin vs Smithfield vs Windham vs Sterling
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 people working from home (18.1%).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% 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 | Smithfield | Windham | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
22,233 |
23,961Highest |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Chaplin and Smithfield 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% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Smithfield and Windham 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. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $255,200±$24k 23% below U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,107±$69 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,633 49% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Smithfield 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 | — | #8 of 38 in RI | #143 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Smithfield | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Smithfield High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
11.8Highest |
9.8 |
— |
| 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.