Compare towns
Sterling vs Windham vs Plainville vs Chaplin
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).
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Plainville | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
23,961Highest |
17,551 |
2,070Lowest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
44.3±1.5Highest 8% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
| Plainville 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 CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 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% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Plainville 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% |
30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2 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±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
| 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±$17kHighest 23% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$254,000±$14k 31% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
| Sterling and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,126±$147 24% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Plainville 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 |
$4,798Highest 28% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Windham and Plainville 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% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
24 min 8% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest CT: 16% |
10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest 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 | #143 of 149 in CT | #89 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Plainville High School | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
11.4Highest |
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.