Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Sprague vs Sutton vs Columbia
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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Sprague has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
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 | Sprague | Sutton | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423 |
2,962Lowest |
9,452Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
48.5±10.7 25% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.3±10.3 32% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Columbia 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% |
17.1%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Columbia and Bethlehem 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% |
19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Columbia 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. |
$92,850±$11kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$127,000±$30k 57% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Columbia 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. |
$273,500±$17kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$361,500±$16k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$1,247±$144Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$966±$304Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Sprague and Sutton 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. |
$4,668Lowest 50% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,228 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.9%±12.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Sutton 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Columbia 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #114 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Sprague School District | Sutton | Columbia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.