Compare towns
Sprague vs Hampton vs Sterling vs Canterbury
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).
Canterbury has the most expensive homes ($334k 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 | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962 |
1,647Lowest |
3,629 |
5,124Highest |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
48.4±4.5 18% above CT |
| Hampton 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% |
19.7%±5.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
15%±3.5Lowest 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% |
25.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Hampton and Canterbury 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%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
26.2% 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% |
4.4%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Canterbury 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 |
$103,198±$6k 8% above CT |
| Hampton and Canterbury 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 |
$334,200±$12kHighest 9% below CT |
| Canterbury and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$1,285±$288Highest 14% below CT |
— | $924±$367Lowest 38% 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 | $4,668Highest 30% below CT |
$4,364 34% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$4,140Lowest 38% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
40%±13 CT: 52.6% |
| Hampton and Canterbury 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% CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
4.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
88.7% 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 |
1975 8 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 |
32 min 20% above CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
14.7%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Hampton and Canterbury 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 | #125 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | Hampton School District | Sterling School District | Canterbury School District |
| 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.