Compare towns

Sterling vs Woonsocket vs Chaplin

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sterling has the highest household income ($103k).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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.

MeasureSterlingWoonsocketChaplin
People
Population
3,629
43,521Highest
2,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.4±5.9
about the U.S. average
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
43.7±4.8Highest
12% above U.S.
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%±5.9
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
20.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
18%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
25.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
10.1%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Chaplin and Woonsocket 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
27% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$97,846±$14k
21% above U.S.
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
15% below U.S.
$311,000±$15kHighest
7% below U.S.
$255,200±$24kLowest
23% below U.S.
Woonsocket and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
$1,473±$275Highest
4% above U.S.
Chaplin and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,551Highest
46% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$4,524
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32%±18.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.6%±27.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Woonsocket and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
32 min
23% above U.S.
Work from home
11.6%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±10Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #37 of 38 in RI —
School district Sterling School District RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town None in town Woonsocket High School Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
15.2Highest
7.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.