Compare towns
Sterling vs Winchester vs Chaplin vs Lisbon
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).
Winchester has the most renters (34.2% rent).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Lisbon has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Winchester | Chaplin | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
10,284Highest |
2,070Lowest |
4,211 |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
49.1±6.2Highest 19% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
44.5±5.2 8% above CT |
| Winchester and Lisbon 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% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
22.1%±6.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Lisbon 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% |
27.4%±5.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Winchester and Lisbon 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% |
27.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
19.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Winchester 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 |
$66,519±$12kLowest 31% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$92,708±$12k 3% below CT |
| 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 |
$249,500±$17kLowest 32% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$315,700±$26kHighest 14% below CT |
| Lisbon and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,174±$116Lowest 21% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
— |
| Chaplin and Winchester 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 |
$4,780Highest 28% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$4,044Lowest 39% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
48.9%±15.8 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
12.8%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.6% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
65.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1955Lowest 12 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
26 minLowest about the CT average |
32 min 22% above CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
6.9%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
8.3%±3.4 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 | #97 of 149 in CT | — | #102 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Lisbon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northwestern Regional High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Highest |
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.