Compare towns
Bethany vs Durham vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Durham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
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 | Bethany | Durham | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,288 |
7,208Highest |
3,629Lowest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
45.5±2.8Highest 11% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
| Durham and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±3.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Durham and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
47.9% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$158,857±$7k 66% above CT |
$102,695±$12kLowest 7% above CT |
| Bethany and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42k 14% above CT |
$424,800±$23kHighest 16% above CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
| Durham and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,154±$448 22% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$7,998 20% above CT |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±28.4Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Durham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
3.4% CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
93.2% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above CT |
23 minLowest 13% below CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
20.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Durham and Bethany 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 | #30 of 149 in CT | #88 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Regional School District 13 | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Coginchaug Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.