Compare towns
Chaplin vs Whitman 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%).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k 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 | Whitman | Windham | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
15,295 |
23,961Highest |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below U.S. |
39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
| Chaplin and Whitman 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% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Whitman 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% |
31.3%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% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 21% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
| Whitman 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±$24k 23% below U.S. |
$472,700±$12kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— |
| Whitman and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% 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% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% 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% |
71.4% 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. |
1957 23 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. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #191 of 282 in MA | #143 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Whitman-Hanson | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
— | 9.8Highest |
— |
| 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.