Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Chaplin vs Sprague vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Sprague has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Bethlehem | Chaplin | Sprague | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423 |
2,070Lowest |
2,962 |
8,189Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
48.5±10.7 25% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $108,929±$16k 35% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$92,850±$11kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36k 24% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$273,500±$17k 18% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,247±$144 12% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 90% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,668 50% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Chaplin 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 | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Sprague School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| 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.