Compare towns
Sterling vs Bethlehem vs Franklin
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 affordable homes ($283k median).
Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Highest |
3,423 |
2,004Lowest |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
| Bethlehem and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Sterling 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% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Franklin 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% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethlehem and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12kLowest 7% above CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17kLowest 23% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,127±$124Highest 24% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Franklin 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 |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% CT: 66.5% |
70.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1973Lowest 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4Lowest 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sterling School District | Regional School District 14 | Franklin 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 |
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.