Compare towns

Sprague vs Suffield 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

Sprague has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Suffield has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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.

MeasureSpragueSuffieldSterlingChaplin
People
Population
2,962
15,702Highest
3,629
2,070Lowest
Median age
48.5±10.7Highest
18% above CT
44.5±1.7
8% above CT
39.4±5.9Lowest
4% below CT
43.7±4.8
6% above CT
Sprague and Suffield 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%
16.2%±2
CT: 20.2%
22.8%±5.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
15.7%±4.2Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Sterling and Sprague 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%
18.4%±2.2
CT: 18.5%
13%±3.8Lowest
CT: 18.5%
20.9%±4.4Highest
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%
40.4%Highest
CT: 42.5%
18%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
25.4%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.6%±0.6Lowest
CT: 7.1%
4.4%±1.2
CT: 7.1%
3.7%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
10.1%±6.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
Chaplin and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$92,850±$11kLowest
3% below CT
$119,472±$13kHighest
25% above CT
$102,695±$12k
7% above CT
$97,846±$14k
about the CT average
Suffield and Sterling 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
$407,500±$26kHighest
11% above CT
$283,400±$17k
23% below CT
$255,200±$24kLowest
30% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,247±$144Lowest
16% below CT
$1,424±$141
4% below CT
—
$1,473±$275Highest
about the CT average
Chaplin and Suffield 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
$6,456Highest
about the CT average
$4,551
31% below CT
$4,524Lowest
32% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
26.9%±12.2Lowest
CT: 52.6%
51%±4.6Highest
CT: 52.6%
32%±18.1
CT: 52.6%
33.6%±27.7
CT: 52.6%
Suffield 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%
4.6%Lowest
CT: 10%
8.3%Highest
CT: 10%
5.4%
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.2%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
86.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
81.1%
CT: 66.5%
82.9%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959Lowest
8 yrs older 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
30 min
12% above CT
26 minLowest
3% below CT
35 minHighest
34% above CT
32 min
22% above CT
Work from home
5%±2.9Lowest
CT: 16%
18.4%±4.1Highest
CT: 16%
11.6%±6.4
CT: 16%
18.1%±10
CT: 16%
Suffield 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 #141 of 149 in CT #57 of 149 in CT #119 of 149 in CT —
School district Sprague School District Suffield School District Sterling School District Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town None in town Suffield High School None in town Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.9Highest
—
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.