Compare towns

Baltic vs Sterling vs Sprague

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 renters (62.2% rent).
Sterling has the most people working from home (11.6%).
Sprague has the oldest population (median age 48.5).

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.

MeasureBalticSterlingSprague
People
Population
1,157Lowest
3,629Highest
2,962
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.1%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
37.8±15.8Lowest
8% below CT
39.4±5.9
4% below CT
48.5±10.7Highest
18% above CT
Sprague 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%
22.8%±5.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
17.1%±5.4
CT: 20.2%
Sterling and Sprague 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%
13%±3.8Lowest
CT: 18.5%
19.9%±3.9Highest
CT: 18.5%
Sprague 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%
18%
CT: 42.5%
19.2%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.5%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
3.7%±1.9Highest
CT: 7.1%
0.6%±0.6
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,958±$47kLowest
28% below CT
$102,695±$12kHighest
7% above CT
$92,850±$11k
3% below CT
Sterling and Sprague 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
$283,400±$17kHighest
23% below CT
$273,500±$17k
25% below CT
Sterling and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,247±$141
16% below CT
—
$1,247±$144
16% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,799Lowest
43% below CT
$4,551
31% below CT
$4,668Highest
30% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.3%±13.7
CT: 52.6%
32%±18.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
26.9%±12.2Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Sterling and Baltic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.6%Highest
CT: 10%
8.3%
CT: 10%
8.1%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
81.1%Highest
CT: 66.5%
67.2%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
29 yrs older than CT
1988Highest
21 yrs newer than CT
1959
8 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
6% above CT
35 minHighest
34% above CT
30 min
12% above CT
Work from home
5.2%±4.6
CT: 16%
11.6%±6.4Highest
CT: 16%
5%±2.9Lowest
CT: 16%
Sterling and Baltic 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 #141 of 149 in CT
School district — Sterling School District Sprague School District
High school in town — None 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.