Compare towns
Sterling vs Northbridge 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).
Northbridge has the most expensive homes ($449k median).
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 | Northbridge | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629 |
16,458Highest |
2,070Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
| Northbridge 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% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Northbridge 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% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Northbridge 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. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Northbridge 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 15% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Chaplin and Northbridge 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. |
$4,821Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Northbridge | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Highest |
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.