Compare towns
Sterling vs Lancaster vs Chaplin vs Ashford
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).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Ashford has the most renters (23.2% 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 | Lancaster | Chaplin | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
8,606Highest |
2,070Lowest |
4,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
37.9±10.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Chaplin and Lancaster 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% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Ashford 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. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$121,926±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Ashford 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. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$334,800±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,246±$208Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 46% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,982 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Ashford 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Ashford 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | — | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Nashoba | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.5 |
— |
| 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.