Compare towns
Deep River vs Sprague vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deep River has the most people working from home (15.2%).
Sprague has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
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 | Deep River | Sprague | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,458Highest |
2,962Lowest |
3,629 |
| Median age | 46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
48.5±10.7Highest 18% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
| Sprague and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±5.4 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±4.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.9%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Deep River and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.2% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Deep River and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,253±$19kLowest 6% below CT |
$92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
$102,695±$12kHighest 7% above CT |
| Sterling and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$26kHighest about the CT average |
$273,500±$17kLowest 25% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$185Lowest 18% below CT |
$1,247±$144Highest 16% below CT |
— |
| Sprague and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,092Highest 8% below CT |
$4,668 30% below CT |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Deep River and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% CT: 10% |
8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% CT: 66.5% |
67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6Highest CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Deep River 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 | #70 of 149 in CT | #141 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Sprague School District | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Valley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
— | — |
| 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.