Compare towns
Sterling vs Bethany vs Putnam
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 kids (22.8% under 18).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Sterling | Bethany | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
5,288 |
9,292Highest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
| Putnam and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
17.2%±4.2 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Putnam and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.8%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethany and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 31% below CT |
$8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Putnam and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
32 min 21% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
12%±5.2Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bethany 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #30 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sterling School District | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.