Compare towns
Sterling vs Orange vs Chaplin
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 youngest population (median age 39.4).
Orange has the most expensive homes ($492k 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 | Orange | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629 |
14,315Highest |
2,070Lowest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
45.6±2.4Highest 11% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
| Orange 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 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Sterling 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% |
23%±2.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Orange 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% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Orange 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 |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,473±$275Lowest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 31% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Orange 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 CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1964Lowest 3 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Orange 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Orange School District · Regional School District 05 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.