Compare towns

Sterling vs Windsor Locks vs Colebrook 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).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Colebrook has the most expensive homes ($343k median).
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.

MeasureSterlingWindsor LocksColebrookChaplin
People
Population
3,629
12,579Highest
1,494Lowest
2,070
Median age
39.4±5.9Lowest
4% below CT
41.4±2.6
about the CT average
52.1±5Highest
27% above CT
43.7±4.8
6% above CT
Colebrook 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%
18.6%±3.4
CT: 20.2%
17.9%±3.9
CT: 20.2%
15.7%±4.2Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Sterling and Windsor Locks 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%
26%±4.2Highest
CT: 18.5%
20.9%±4.4
CT: 18.5%
Colebrook and Chaplin 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%
28.6%
CT: 42.5%
36.6%Highest
CT: 42.5%
25.4%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.9Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.9%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.8
CT: 7.1%
10.1%±6.2Highest
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±$12k
7% above CT
$81,205±$13kLowest
15% below CT
$111,250±$17kHighest
16% above CT
$97,846±$14k
about the CT average
Colebrook 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
$258,800±$14k
29% below CT
$342,800±$19kHighest
7% below CT
$255,200±$24kLowest
30% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,394±$187
6% below CT
$1,333±$626Lowest
10% below CT
$1,473±$275Highest
about the CT average
Chaplin and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,551
31% below CT
$3,688Lowest
44% below CT
$6,211Highest
7% below CT
$4,524
32% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32%±18.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
58.2%±16.8Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.1%±55
CT: 52.6%
33.6%±27.7
CT: 52.6%
Windsor Locks and Colebrook 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%
8.3%
CT: 10%
5.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%
CT: 66.5%
77.1%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
91.6%Highest
CT: 66.5%
82.9%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
21 yrs newer than CT
1961
6 yrs older than CT
1960Lowest
7 yrs older than CT
1979
12 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
34% above CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
34 min
29% above CT
32 min
22% above CT
Work from home
11.6%±6.4
CT: 16%
17.7%±3.7
CT: 16%
7%±3.8Lowest
CT: 16%
18.1%±10Highest
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 — —
School district Sterling School District Windsor Locks School District Colebrook School District Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town None in town Windsor Locks High School None in town Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.9Highest
—
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.