Compare towns
Sprague vs Stepney 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).
Stepney has the highest household income ($154k).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (13.9%).
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 | Stepney | Bethlehem | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962Lowest |
3,979Highest |
3,423 |
3,629 |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
47.1±5.6 15% 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% |
21.1%±5.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Stepney 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% |
17.7%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Sprague 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% |
54.2%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% |
10.1%±5.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
| Stepney 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 |
$153,966±$16kHighest 61% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,500±$17kLowest 25% below CT |
$475,800±$53kHighest 30% above CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
| Stepney and Bethlehem 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 |
$2,750±$1kHighest 85% above CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,668 30% below CT |
$9,309Highest 40% 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% |
63.2%±48.8 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Stepney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
0.8%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
96.4%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
81.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1982 15 yrs newer 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 |
37 minHighest 41% above CT |
29 minLowest 9% above CT |
35 min 34% above CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
9.8%±4.3 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem and Sterling 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 | — | #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.