Compare towns
Sprague vs Sterling vs Windham vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most homeowners (81.1%).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
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 | Sterling | Windham | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962Lowest |
3,629 |
23,961Highest |
3,423 |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
39.4±5.9 4% below CT |
33.7±1.9Lowest 18% below CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above 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% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.1%±2.4 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Windham 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% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
14.3%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest 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% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
22.7% CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
15.2%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$55,736±$5kLowest 42% below CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,500±$17k 25% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$209,800±$9kLowest 43% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144Highest 16% below CT |
— | $1,107±$69Lowest 26% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
| Sprague and Bethlehem 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 |
$4,551Lowest 31% below CT |
$4,633 30% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
57.1%±8.1 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
20.7%Highest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
47.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
24 minLowest 8% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
6.1%±1.7 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Highest 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #143 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.