Compare towns
Sterling vs Windsor Locks vs Chaplin vs Plainfield
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).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Chaplin has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
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 | Windsor Locks | Chaplin | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
12,579 |
2,070Lowest |
15,141Highest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
43.7±4.8Highest 6% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
| Chaplin and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.6%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Plainfield 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% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18% CT: 42.5% |
28.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Windsor Locks 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 |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% 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±$17kHighest 23% below CT |
$258,800±$14k 29% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
| Sterling and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
| Chaplin and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551Highest 31% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | — | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Windsor Locks School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Parish Hill High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
7.5Lowest |
10.3Highest |
| 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.