Compare towns
Bethlehem 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
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
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 | Bethlehem | Chaplin | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423 |
2,070Lowest |
3,629Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
— |
| Chaplin and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Bethlehem 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | — | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5 |
— |
| 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.