Compare towns
Prospect vs Sterling vs Lebanon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Prospect has the highest household income ($126k).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Prospect | Sterling | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,458Highest |
3,629Lowest |
7,116 |
| Median age | 46.8±3.9 14% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
46.9±2.7Highest 14% above CT |
| Lebanon and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.4%±3.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.6%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
| Prospect and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
40.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.3%±2.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Sterling and Prospect are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $126,394±$18kHighest 32% above CT |
$102,695±$12kLowest 7% above CT |
$109,135±$19k 14% above CT |
| Prospect and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $355,400±$21kHighest 3% below CT |
$283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$345,900±$40k 6% below CT |
| Prospect and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$433Highest 21% above CT |
— | $1,630±$534Lowest 10% above CT |
| Prospect and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,504Highest about the CT average |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$5,646 15% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.3%±31.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
33%±18.9 CT: 52.6% |
| Prospect and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
4.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 7 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1977 10 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
31 min 15% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.1%±3.2Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
20.5%±7.9Highest CT: 16% |
| Lebanon 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 | #50 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #74 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Sterling School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lyman Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
| 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.