Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Sterling vs Morris
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).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Morris has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Morris |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423 |
3,629Highest |
2,164Lowest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
52.8±6.5Highest 28% above CT |
| Morris 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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.9%±4.5 CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Morris 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
29.3%±6.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Morris 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% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.2%±3Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Morris 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 |
$102,695±$12kLowest 7% above CT |
$109,191±$25kHighest 14% above CT |
| Morris 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±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$396,000±$60k 8% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
— | $1,204±$134Highest 19% below CT |
| Morris 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 |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$5,273 21% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±31.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Morris 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% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
6.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
89.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
29 min 11% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±5.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Morris 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 | Sterling School District | Regional School District 20 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.