Compare towns
Sterling vs Ludlow vs Chaplin
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).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Ludlow | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629 |
20,904Highest |
2,070Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.3±1.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
| Ludlow 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Ludlow 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% |
21.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ludlow 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% |
27%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Ludlow 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 27% above U.S. |
$84,838±$7kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
| 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 15% below U.S. |
$335,300±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,223±$82Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Chaplin and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 46% above U.S. |
$4,918Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ludlow and Chaplin 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Ludlow 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 | #154 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Ludlow | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ludlow Senior High | 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 |
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.