Compare towns
Sterling vs Bethlehem vs Chaplin
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).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Bethlehem | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Highest |
3,423 |
2,070Lowest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Chaplin 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% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Bethlehem 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% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Chaplin 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% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Bethlehem 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 |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$97,846±$14kLowest about the CT average |
| Bethlehem and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 31% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1976Lowest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
29 minLowest 9% above CT |
32 min 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Lowest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Regional School District 14 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.5 |
| 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.