Compare towns
Sterling vs Killingly vs Chester vs Chaplin
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).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
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.
| Measure | Sterling | Killingly | Chester | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
17,867Highest |
3,825 |
2,070Lowest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Killingly 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% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Chester 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 CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Killingly 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 |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
| Chester 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 |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
| Chester and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 31% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Chester and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
28 minLowest 5% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
| Chester 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #8 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Chester School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
— | 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.