Compare towns
Sterling vs Preston 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 most kids (22.8% under 18).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Preston | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629 |
4,821Highest |
2,070Lowest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
46.2±7Highest 12% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
| Preston 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 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Preston 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%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston 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% |
28.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Preston 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 |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
| Preston 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 |
$361,900±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,433±$1kLowest 4% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Preston 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 |
$4,749Highest 29% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Preston 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% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
10.3%±6Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Preston School District | 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.