Compare towns
Chaplin vs Sterling vs Thompson vs Ashford
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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Thompson | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
3,629 |
9,337Highest |
4,226 |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
54.1±2.2Highest 32% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.4%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Thompson 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% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
21.9% CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Ashford 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 |
$93,629±$18kLowest about the CT average |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
| Ashford 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 |
$291,900±$24k 20% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
— | $1,012±$344Lowest 32% below CT |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
| Chaplin and Ashford 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 |
$3,822Lowest 42% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
54%±18.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Thompson and Ashford 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%Highest CT: 10% |
5.9% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
84.3%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
32 minLowest 20% above CT |
34 min 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.1%±4.4 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Ashford 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Sterling School District | Thompson School District | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
— | 7.9Highest |
— |
| 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.