Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Chester vs Killingly 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 renters (29.8% rent).
Chester has the most people working from home (18.3%).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Chester | Killingly | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
3,825 |
17,867Highest |
3,629 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
54±3.4Highest 31% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
| Chester and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.5%±4.9 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
26.8%±4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Chester and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% CT: 42.5% |
47.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
4%±2.9 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly 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±$16k 14% above CT |
$109,191±$18kHighest 14% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Chester and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$442,200±$25kHighest 21% above CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
| Chester and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,549±$247Highest 4% above CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 11% below CT |
$6,364Highest 4% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
57.4%±22.1 CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% CT: 10% |
11.8%Highest CT: 10% |
11.4% CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.2% CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
28 min 7% above CT |
28 minLowest 5% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
18.3%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Chester 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 | #8 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Chester School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.