Compare towns
Sterling vs Webster vs Chaplin vs Voluntown
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).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Voluntown has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Webster | Chaplin | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
17,748Highest |
2,070Lowest |
2,604 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.9±2.9 about the U.S. average |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
48.3±1.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Voluntown 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Webster 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% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Webster 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. |
$72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$101,964±$25k 26% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Voluntown 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. |
$361,500±$12kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$356,100±$16k 7% above U.S. |
| Webster and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,166±$191Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Webster 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. |
$3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
$4,955Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±24.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Voluntown 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% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.9%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | — | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Webster | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bartlett High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
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.