Compare towns
Lisbon vs Sandy Hook vs Sterling vs Chaplin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lisbon has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Sandy Hook has the most expensive homes ($501k median).
Sterling has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k 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 | Lisbon | Sandy Hook | Sterling | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,211 |
9,863Highest |
3,629 |
2,070Lowest |
| Median age | 44.5±5.2Highest 8% above CT |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
| Lisbon and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±6.4 CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Lisbon and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2% CT: 42.5% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,708±$12kLowest 3% below CT |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,700±$26k 14% below CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
— | $1,473±$275Lowest about the CT average |
| Sandy Hook and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,044Lowest 39% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% CT: 10% |
5.6% CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
92.9% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above CT |
35 min 33% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.4Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
| Sandy Hook 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 | #102 of 149 in CT | — | #119 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Lisbon School District | — | Sterling School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.5 |
| 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.