Compare towns
Sterling vs Upton 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 youngest population (median age 39.4).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
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 | Upton | Windsor Locks | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
8,189 |
12,579Highest |
2,070Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
| Upton 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sterling 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Upton 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Windsor Locks 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 27% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 15% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $948±$599Lowest 33% 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% 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% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer 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. |
35 minHighest 34% above 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% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Chaplin 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Windsor Locks School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Windsor Locks High School | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
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.