Compare towns
Chaplin vs Willimantic vs Sterling vs Windham
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%).
Willimantic has the most renters (65.1% rent).
Sterling has the most expensive homes ($283k median).
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 | Willimantic | Sterling | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,070Lowest |
18,096 |
3,629 |
23,961Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
31.3±2.7Lowest 24% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
33.7±1.9 18% 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% |
20.6%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Willimantic 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% |
11%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8 CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24.2% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
19.1%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Willimantic and Windham 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 |
$45,962±$7kLowest 52% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$55,736±$5k 42% 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±$24k 30% below CT |
$190,900±$17kLowest 48% below CT |
$283,400±$17kHighest 23% below CT |
$209,800±$9k 43% below CT |
| Sterling and Chaplin 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 |
$1,063±$68Lowest 29% below CT |
— | $1,107±$69 26% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,678Highest 30% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
55.9%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Willimantic 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% |
23.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
20.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
34.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
47.4% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1956 11 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above CT |
23 minLowest 12% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
6.2%±2 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest 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 | #143 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | — | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | Parish Hill High School | — | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.5Lowest |
— | — | 9.8Highest |
| 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.