Compare towns
Sterling vs Middlefield vs Chaplin vs Ashford
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).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Middlefield | Chaplin | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
4,243Highest |
2,070Lowest |
4,226 |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
37.9±10.3Lowest 8% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Ashford 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% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield 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% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
35.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Middlefield 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 |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
| Ashford 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 |
$376,000±$27kHighest about the CT average |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$334,800±$18k 9% below CT |
| Middlefield and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,246±$208Lowest 16% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 31% below CT |
$6,853 3% above CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield 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 CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
76.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
34 min 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Ashford 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | — | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Regional School District 13 | 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 |
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.