Compare towns
Sprague vs Norwich vs Chaplin vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sprague has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Sprague | Norwich | Chaplin | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962 |
39,973Highest |
2,070Lowest |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7Highest 18% above CT |
38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Sprague and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5.4 CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Sprague 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% |
23.1% CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above 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 | $273,500±$17k 25% below CT |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$283,400±$17kHighest 23% below CT |
| Sterling and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144Lowest 16% below CT |
$1,253±$68 16% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
— |
| Chaplin and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,668 30% below CT |
$4,703Highest 29% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest 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 | #141 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT | — | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Norwich Free Academy | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.