Compare towns
Sterling vs Smithfield vs Windsor Locks 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 most kids (22.8% under 18).
Smithfield has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Chaplin has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Smithfield | Windsor Locks | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
22,233Highest |
12,579 |
2,070Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Chaplin and Smithfield 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% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Windsor Locks 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% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Smithfield and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Smithfield 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. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Chaplin and Windsor Locks 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. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Windsor Locks 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #109 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Smithfield | Windsor Locks School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | Smithfield High School | Windsor Locks High School | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
8.9 |
7.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.