Compare towns
Voluntown vs Plainfield vs Chaplin vs Sterling
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).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Voluntown | Plainfield | Chaplin | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,604 |
15,141Highest |
2,070Lowest |
3,629 |
| Median age | 48.3±1.7Highest 18% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below 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% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest 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+ | 17.6%±3 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Voluntown 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% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Plainfield 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 |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
| 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 |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$191Lowest 22% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
— |
| Chaplin and Plainfield 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 |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±24.3Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Voluntown and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 16 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
32 min 22% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5.4Lowest CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | — | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Voluntown School District | Plainfield School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
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.