Compare towns
Deep River vs Franklin vs Sprague vs Beacon Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deep River has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Sprague has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
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 | Deep River | Franklin | Sprague | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,458 |
2,004Lowest |
2,962 |
6,147Highest |
| Median age | 46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
40.3±4.3Lowest about the CT average |
48.5±10.7Highest 18% above CT |
48.4±3.8 18% above CT |
| Sprague and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.7Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±5.4 CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.9%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Beacon Falls and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,253±$19kLowest 6% below CT |
$105,000±$10kHighest 10% above CT |
$92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
| Franklin and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$26kHighest about the CT average |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
$273,500±$17kLowest 25% below CT |
$350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
| Deep River and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$185 18% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
$1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,092 8% below CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,668 30% below CT |
$6,534Highest about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Deep River and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% CT: 10% |
8.7%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% CT: 66.5% |
84.1% CT: 66.5% |
67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
85.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
30 min 12% above CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4 CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
| Beacon Falls and Deep River 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 | #70 of 149 in CT | — | #141 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Franklin School District | Sprague School District | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | Valley Regional High School | None in town | None in town | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | — | 11.2Highest |
| 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.