Compare towns
Sprague vs Hampton vs Sterling vs Bethlehem
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 most renters (32.8% rent).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Sterling has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k 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.
| Measure | Sprague | Hampton | Sterling | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962 |
1,647Lowest |
3,629Highest |
3,423 |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5.4 CT: 20.2% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Hampton 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Bethlehem 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% |
29.9% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethlehem and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,850±$11kLowest 3% below CT |
$109,167±$19kHighest 14% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
| Hampton and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,500±$17kLowest 25% below CT |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$1,285±$288Highest 14% below CT |
— | $1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
| Hampton 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 |
$4,364Lowest 34% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
29 minLowest 9% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
29 minLowest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
| Hampton 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 | — | #119 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | Hampton School District | Sterling School District | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.