Compare towns

Chaplin vs Preston vs Sprague

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Preston has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Sprague has the most renters (32.8% rent).

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.

MeasureChaplinPrestonSprague
People
Population
2,070Lowest
4,821Highest
2,962
Median age
43.7±4.8Lowest
6% above CT
46.2±7
12% above CT
48.5±10.7Highest
18% above CT
Sprague and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.7%±4.2Lowest
CT: 20.2%
18.7%±4.4Highest
CT: 20.2%
17.1%±5.4
CT: 20.2%
Preston and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.9%±4.4
CT: 18.5%
23%±4.7Highest
CT: 18.5%
19.9%±3.9Lowest
CT: 18.5%
Preston and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.4%
CT: 42.5%
28.5%Highest
CT: 42.5%
19.2%Lowest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
10.1%±6.2Highest
CT: 7.1%
4.9%±2.4
CT: 7.1%
0.6%±0.6Lowest
CT: 7.1%
Chaplin and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,846±$14k
about the CT average
$116,648±$27kHighest
22% above CT
$92,850±$11kLowest
3% below CT
Preston and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$255,200±$24kLowest
30% below CT
$361,900±$13kHighest
about the CT average
$273,500±$17k
25% below CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,473±$275Highest
about the CT average
$1,433±$1k
4% below CT
$1,247±$144Lowest
16% below CT
Chaplin and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,524Lowest
32% below CT
$4,749Highest
29% below CT
$4,668
30% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.6%±27.7
CT: 52.6%
52.6%±12.5Highest
CT: 52.6%
26.9%±12.2Lowest
CT: 52.6%
Preston and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.4%
CT: 10%
2.4%Lowest
CT: 10%
8.1%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
CT: 66.5%
91.7%Highest
CT: 66.5%
67.2%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
12 yrs newer than CT
1970
3 yrs newer than CT
1959Lowest
8 yrs older than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
22% above CT
22 minLowest
17% below CT
30 min
12% above CT
Work from home
18.1%±10Highest
CT: 16%
10.3%±6
CT: 16%
5%±2.9Lowest
CT: 16%
Chaplin and Preston 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 — #93 of 149 in CT #141 of 149 in CT
School district Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 Preston School District Sprague School District
High school in town Parish Hill High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
7.5
— —
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.