Compare towns
Sprague vs Derby vs Bethlehem vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sprague has the oldest housing (typical home built 1959).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
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 | Sprague | Derby | Bethlehem | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962Lowest |
12,487Highest |
3,423 |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5.4 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±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+ | 19.9%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2% CT: 42.5% |
35.6% CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Derby and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above 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 | $273,500±$17k 25% below CT |
$256,700±$21kLowest 30% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$1,452±$95Highest about the CT average |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
— |
| Derby and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,668 30% below CT |
$5,510 17% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
29 min 9% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Derby 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 | #141 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | Derby School District | Regional School District 14 | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Derby High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.