Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 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 | Plainfield | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
15,141Highest |
3,629 |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Sterling 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% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Plainfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
18% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield 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 |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$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 |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,204±$70Highest 19% below CT |
— |
| Plainfield 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 |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Plainfield 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% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem and Sterling 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Plainfield School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| 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.