Compare towns

Voluntown vs Killingly vs Sterling vs Chaplin

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Voluntown has the most expensive homes ($356k median).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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.

MeasureVoluntownKillinglySterlingChaplin
People
Population
2,604
17,867Highest
3,629
2,070Lowest
Median age
48.3±1.7Highest
18% above CT
39.5±3
4% below CT
39.4±5.9Lowest
4% below CT
43.7±4.8
6% above CT
Voluntown and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.4%±3.5
CT: 20.2%
19.8%±2.3
CT: 20.2%
22.8%±5.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
15.7%±4.2Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±3
CT: 18.5%
19.7%±2.4
CT: 18.5%
13%±3.8Lowest
CT: 18.5%
20.9%±4.4Highest
CT: 18.5%
Chaplin and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.7%Highest
CT: 42.5%
22.9%
CT: 42.5%
18%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
25.4%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.6Lowest
CT: 7.1%
5.4%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
3.7%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
10.1%±6.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
Chaplin and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,964±$25k
6% above CT
$84,350±$8kLowest
12% below CT
$102,695±$12kHighest
7% above CT
$97,846±$14k
about the CT average
Sterling and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$356,100±$16kHighest
about the CT average
$288,600±$15k
21% below CT
$283,400±$17k
23% below CT
$255,200±$24kLowest
30% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,166±$191
22% below CT
$1,044±$141Lowest
30% below CT
—
$1,473±$275Highest
about the CT average
Chaplin and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,955Highest
25% below CT
$3,922Lowest
41% below CT
$4,551
31% below CT
$4,524
32% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.9%±24.3Highest
CT: 52.6%
42.8%±10.9
CT: 52.6%
32%±18.1Lowest
CT: 52.6%
33.6%±27.7
CT: 52.6%
Voluntown and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.3%
CT: 10%
11.4%Highest
CT: 10%
8.3%
CT: 10%
5.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.5%Highest
CT: 66.5%
71.6%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
81.1%
CT: 66.5%
82.9%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
16 yrs newer than CT
1968Lowest
1 yr newer than CT
1988Highest
21 yrs newer than CT
1979
12 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
18% above CT
28 minLowest
5% above CT
35 minHighest
34% above CT
32 min
22% above CT
Work from home
8.9%±5.4Lowest
CT: 16%
11.1%±2.3
CT: 16%
11.6%±6.4
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 #53 of 149 in CT #136 of 149 in CT #119 of 149 in CT —
School district Voluntown School District Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Sterling School District Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town None in town Killingly High School None in town Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Highest
—
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.