Compare towns
Sterling vs Union vs Killingly 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).
Union has the most expensive homes ($330k median).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 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 | Union | Killingly | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
944Lowest |
17,867Highest |
2,070 |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
| Union 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% |
16.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Killingly 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Union 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% |
24% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Killingly 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 7% above CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
| Sterling and Chaplin 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 |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 31% below CT |
$4,793Highest 28% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
28 minLowest 5% above CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 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 | — | #136 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Union School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Highest |
7.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.