Compare towns
Sprague vs Orange 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 most renters (32.8% rent).
Orange has the highest household income ($142k).
Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Sterling has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
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 | Orange | Bethlehem | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962Lowest |
14,315Highest |
3,423 |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% 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% |
22.9%±2.5Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
| Orange and Sterling 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% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Orange 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% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Orange 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±$11kLowest 3% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,500±$17kLowest 25% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,668 30% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
28 minLowest 4% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Orange 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | — | Regional School District 14 | Sterling School District |
| High school 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.