Compare towns
Sterling vs Millis vs Chaplin vs Franklin
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 youngest population (median age 39.4).
Millis has the most expensive homes ($604k median).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Millis | Chaplin | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
8,888Highest |
2,070 |
2,004Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±3Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
40.3±4.3 4% above U.S. |
| Millis and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Sterling 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% |
23.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Millis 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% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Millis 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. |
$155,996±$9kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$105,000±$10k 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,696±$279Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Millis and Chaplin 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. |
$9,344Highest 200% above U.S. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
$3,934Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±16.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Millis and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Millis 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Millis | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Millis High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.