Compare towns
Sterling vs Dedham vs Chaplin vs Voluntown
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).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Dedham | Chaplin | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
25,237Highest |
2,070Lowest |
2,604 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
48.3±1.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Chaplin 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% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Dedham 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. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$101,964±$25k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$356,100±$16k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,166±$191Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 46% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,955 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±24.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Voluntown 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | — | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Dedham | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.