Compare towns

Baltic vs Windham 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 renters (62.2% rent).
Windham has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Sterling has the most people working from home (11.6%).

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.

MeasureBalticWindhamSterling
People
Population
1,157Lowest
23,961Highest
3,629
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.1%
CT: +0.9%
— —
Median age
37.8±15.8
8% below CT
33.7±1.9Lowest
18% below CT
39.4±5.9Highest
4% below CT
Sterling and Baltic 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%
20.1%±2.4
CT: 20.2%
22.8%±5.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
Sterling and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.6%±5.2Highest
CT: 18.5%
14.3%±1.9
CT: 18.5%
13%±3.8Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Baltic and Windham 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%
22.7%Highest
CT: 42.5%
18%
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.5%±1.4Lowest
CT: 7.1%
15.2%±1.8Highest
CT: 7.1%
3.7%±1.9
CT: 7.1%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,958±$47k
28% below CT
$55,736±$5kLowest
42% 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
$209,800±$9k
43% below CT
$283,400±$17kHighest
23% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,247±$141Highest
16% below CT
$1,107±$69Lowest
26% below CT
—
Baltic and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,799Lowest
43% below CT
$4,633Highest
30% below CT
$4,551
31% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.3%±13.7Lowest
CT: 52.6%
57.1%±8.1Highest
CT: 52.6%
32%±18.1
CT: 52.6%
Windham 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%
20.7%Highest
CT: 10%
8.3%Lowest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.8%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
47.4%
CT: 66.5%
81.1%Highest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
29 yrs older than CT
1956
11 yrs older than CT
1988Highest
21 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above CT
24 minLowest
8% below CT
35 minHighest
34% above CT
Work from home
5.2%±4.6Lowest
CT: 16%
6.1%±1.7
CT: 16%
11.6%±6.4Highest
CT: 16%
Sterling and Windham 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 — #143 of 149 in CT #119 of 149 in CT
School district — Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Sterling School District
High school in town — Windham High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.8
—
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.