Compare towns
Sterling vs Plainville vs Chaplin vs Franklin
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).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Plainville | Chaplin | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
17,551Highest |
2,070 |
2,004Lowest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
| Plainville 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% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| 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 CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Plainville 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% |
30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Plainville 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 |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$105,000±$10kHighest 10% above CT |
| Franklin 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 |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$326,200±$20kHighest 11% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
| Chaplin and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 31% below CT |
$4,798Highest 28% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Plainville and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Sterling 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainville High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.