Compare towns
Sterling vs Washington 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).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
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 | Washington | Chaplin | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
3,676Highest |
2,070 |
2,004Lowest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
| Washington 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% |
19%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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% |
53.7%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% |
6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Washington 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 |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest 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 |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
| Chaplin and Washington 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 |
$4,709Highest 29% 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% |
26.1%±24 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Chaplin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
9%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
79%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 |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Regional School District 12 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1Highest |
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.