Compare towns
Sterling vs Killingly vs Derby 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 expensive homes ($289k median).
Derby has the most renters (38.1% rent).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Killingly | Derby | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
17,867Highest |
12,487 |
2,070Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
| Derby 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% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 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% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Derby 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% |
35.6%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% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
| Sterling and Chaplin 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±$15kHighest 21% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
| Killingly and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Derby 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 |
$5,510Highest 17% 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% |
53.9%±12.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Derby 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%Highest CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
28 min 5% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 min 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Derby 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Derby School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Derby High School | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
9.7 |
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.