Compare towns
Sterling vs Windham vs Chaplin vs Ashford
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).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
Chaplin has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Ashford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Windham | Chaplin | Ashford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
23,961Highest |
2,070Lowest |
4,226 |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
37.9±10.3 8% below CT |
| Chaplin and Sterling 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% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.5%±5.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Windham 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% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.9%±3.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Ashford 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% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
35.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.7 CT: 7.1% |
| Windham and Chaplin 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 |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$121,926±$23kHighest 27% above CT |
| Ashford 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 |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$334,800±$18kHighest 9% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,246±$208 16% below CT |
| Chaplin and Ashford 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 |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$6,982Highest 5% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
47%±26 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Ashford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
76.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
34 min 30% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
19.3%±5.5Highest CT: 16% |
| Ashford 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | — | #90 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Ashford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
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.