Compare towns
Chaplin vs Watertown vs Windham 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%).
Watertown has the most expensive homes ($334k 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 | Watertown | Windham | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
22,253 |
23,961Highest |
3,629 |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
46.3±2.9Highest 13% above CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Watertown 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% |
17.7%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| 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 CT: 18.5% |
23.3%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Watertown 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% |
38.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Windham and Chaplin 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 |
$101,691±$7k 6% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
| Sterling and Watertown 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 |
$333,500±$16kHighest 9% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,275±$227 14% below CT |
$1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
— |
| Chaplin and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,014Highest 9% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
56.6%±13.3 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% CT: 10% |
4.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% CT: 66.5% |
83.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1969 2 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 |
24 minLowest 10% below CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
10.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest 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 | — | #126 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Watertown School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | Watertown High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
10.6Highest |
9.8 |
— |
| 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.