Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Sterling vs Killingly
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).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Sterling | Killingly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
3,629 |
17,867Highest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 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%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Killingly 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% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest 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±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below 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 |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Highest 24% below CT |
— | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Killingly 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 |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% CT: 10% |
8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1968Lowest 1 yr newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
28 minLowest 5% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Killingly High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.