Compare towns
Sterling vs Hampton vs Chaplin vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Plainfield has the most renters (26.4% rent).
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 | Hampton | Chaplin | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
1,647Lowest |
2,070 |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Hampton and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton 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% CT: 42.5% |
29.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Plainfield 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 7% above CT |
$109,167±$19kHighest 14% above CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
| Hampton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$295,800±$27kHighest 19% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Hampton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,285±$288 14% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Chaplin and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551Highest 31% below CT |
$4,364 34% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Hampton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Hampton 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 | — | — | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Hampton School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.5Lowest |
10.3Highest |
| 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.