Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Putnam vs Sprague
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Sprague has the oldest housing (typical home built 1959).
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 | Putnam | Sprague |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423 |
9,292Highest |
2,962Lowest |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
48.5±10.7 18% 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 | 16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±5.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Putnam 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 CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.9%±3.9 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+ | 39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Bethlehem and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$273,500±$17k 25% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
$1,247±$144Highest 16% below CT |
| Sprague and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,668 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
30 minHighest 12% above CT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem and Putnam 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #141 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Putnam School District | Sprague School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.