Compare towns

Chaplin vs Sterling vs Suffield vs Windsor Locks

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 affordable homes ($255k median).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 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.

MeasureChaplinSterlingSuffieldWindsor Locks
People
Population
2,070Lowest
3,629
15,702Highest
12,579
Median age
43.7±4.8
6% above CT
39.4±5.9Lowest
4% below CT
44.5±1.7Highest
8% above CT
41.4±2.6
about the CT average
Suffield 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
CT: 20.2%
22.8%±5.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
16.2%±2
CT: 20.2%
18.6%±3.4
CT: 20.2%
Sterling and Windsor Locks 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%
18.4%±2.2
CT: 18.5%
18.2%±2.7
CT: 18.5%
Chaplin and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.4%
CT: 42.5%
18%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
40.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
28.6%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.1%±6.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
CT: 7.1%
4.4%±1.2
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
Chaplin and Windsor Locks 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±$12k
7% above CT
$119,472±$13kHighest
25% above CT
$81,205±$13kLowest
15% below CT
Suffield and Sterling 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±$17k
23% below CT
$407,500±$26kHighest
11% above CT
$258,800±$14k
29% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,473±$275Highest
about the CT average
—
$1,424±$141
4% below CT
$1,394±$187Lowest
6% below CT
Chaplin and Suffield 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
$4,551
31% below CT
$6,456Highest
about the CT average
$3,688Lowest
44% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.6%±27.7
CT: 52.6%
32%±18.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
51%±4.6
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±16.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
Windsor Locks and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.4%
CT: 10%
8.3%
CT: 10%
4.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
10.9%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
CT: 66.5%
81.1%
CT: 66.5%
86.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
77.1%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
12 yrs newer than CT
1988Highest
21 yrs newer than CT
1979
12 yrs newer than CT
1961Lowest
6 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
22% above CT
35 minHighest
34% above CT
26 min
3% below CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
Work from home
18.1%±10
CT: 16%
11.6%±6.4Lowest
CT: 16%
18.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 16%
17.7%±3.7
CT: 16%
Suffield 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 — #119 of 149 in CT #57 of 149 in CT #109 of 149 in CT
School district Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Sterling School District Suffield School District Windsor Locks School District
High school in town Parish Hill High School None in town Suffield High School Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.5Lowest
—
10.9Highest
8.9
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.