Compare towns
Sterling vs Killingly vs Bethlehem vs Foster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Foster has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Killingly | Bethlehem | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,629 |
17,867Highest |
3,423Lowest |
4,523 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
47.1±3 21% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Killingly 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 27% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$108,929±$16k 35% above U.S. |
$113,646±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Foster and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$410,900±$36k 24% above U.S. |
$425,300±$30kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Foster and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Foster and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 46% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,932 90% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Foster 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Sterling School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Regional School District 14 | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.