Compare towns
Baltic vs Bantam vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Baltic has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Bantam has the most people working from home (16%).
Sterling has the most homeowners (81.1%).
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.
| Measure | Baltic | Bantam | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,157 |
810Lowest |
3,629Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% CT: +0.9% |
-5.1% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 37.8±15.8Lowest 8% below CT |
47.2±15.7Highest 15% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Bantam and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±10.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±6.5 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Bantam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±5.2 CT: 18.5% |
25.4%±8.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bantam and Baltic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
26.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.1%±2.3 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Sterling and Bantam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,958±$47kLowest 28% below CT |
— | $102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
| Sterling and Baltic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,200±$27kLowest 47% below CT |
$317,700±$40kHighest 13% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Bantam and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$141Highest 16% below CT |
$688±$106Lowest 54% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,799Lowest 43% below CT |
$3,984 40% below CT |
$4,551Highest 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.3%±13.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.3%±12.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Bantam and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% CT: 10% |
14.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
49.1% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1953 14 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 5.2%±4.6Lowest CT: 16% |
16%±7.9Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Bantam 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 |
| School district | — | — | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.