Compare towns
Sprague vs Sandy Hook 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).
Sandy Hook has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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 | Sandy Hook | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,962Lowest |
9,863Highest |
3,629 |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7Highest 18% above CT |
43.1±3 5% above CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
| Sprague and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.6%±4.1 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Sandy Hook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
14.4%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Sprague and Sandy Hook 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% |
60.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±2.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Sandy Hook 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 |
$160,814±$25kHighest 68% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,500±$17kLowest 25% below CT |
$501,200±$33kHighest 37% above CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144Lowest 16% below CT |
$1,866±$439Highest 25% above CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,668 30% below CT |
$10,000+Highest at least 51% above CT |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.4%±26.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Sandy Hook and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
5.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above CT |
35 min 33% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
23.1%±4.4Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #141 of 149 in CT | — | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | — | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.