What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).

Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Pelham	Sterling
People
Population	1,335Lowest	3,629Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45±8.4Highest 16% above U.S.	39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average
	Pelham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sterling and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sterling and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,750±$24kHighest 41% above U.S.	$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S.
	Pelham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$447,600±$33kHighest 35% above U.S.	$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,205±$560 15% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,472Highest 140% above U.S.	$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.7%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pelham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.
Work from home	32.8%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#119 of 149 in CT
School district	Pelham	Sterling School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.