Compare towns
Sterling vs Needham 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 youngest population (median age 39.4).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
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 | Needham | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629 |
32,459Highest |
2,070Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Chaplin and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,473±$275Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Needham | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
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.