Compare towns
Chaplin vs Sterling vs Plainfield
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%).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Sterling | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
3,629 |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% 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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Plainfield 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Plainfield 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% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| 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 about the CT average |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below 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±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$283,400±$17kHighest 23% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Sterling and Plainfield 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 |
— | $1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| 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 32% below CT |
$4,551Highest 31% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Plainfield 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% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest 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 | — | #119 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Sterling School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
— | 10.3Highest |
| 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.