Compare towns
Sterling vs Chaplin vs Suffield vs Foster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Foster has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
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 | Sterling | Chaplin | Suffield | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
2,070Lowest |
15,702Highest |
4,523 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Foster and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18k 41% above U.S. |
| Suffield and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Foster and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Foster and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 46% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | — | #57 of 149 in CT | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Sterling School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Suffield School District | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Suffield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
10.9Highest |
— |
| 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.