Compare towns
Baltic vs Bethlehem vs Sprague vs Suffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Baltic has the most renters (62.2% rent).
Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Sprague has the most kids (17.1% under 18).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
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 | Baltic | Bethlehem | Sprague | Suffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,157Lowest |
3,423 |
2,962 |
15,702Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 37.8±15.8Lowest 8% below CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% 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 | 15.5%±10.8Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±5.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
| Sprague and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±5.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.9%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
18.4%±2.2 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+ | 16.1%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
19.2% CT: 42.5% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6 CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethlehem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,958±$47kLowest 28% below CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
| Suffield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,200±$27kLowest 47% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$273,500±$17k 25% below CT |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$141 16% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$1,424±$141Highest 4% below CT |
| Suffield and Baltic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,799Lowest 43% below CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
$4,668 30% below CT |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.3%±13.7 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
67.2% CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 29 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
30 minHighest 12% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
| Work from home | 5.2%±4.6 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | — | #82 of 149 in CT | #141 of 149 in CT | #57 of 149 in CT |
| School district | — | Regional School District 14 | Sprague School District | Suffield School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Suffield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.9 |
| 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.