Compare towns
Deep River vs Sprague vs Lyme 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).
Sprague has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($630k median).
Beacon Falls has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 | Sprague | Lyme | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,458 |
2,962 |
2,303Lowest |
6,147Highest |
| Median age | 46.2±5.6Lowest 12% above CT |
48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
55.6±3.3Highest 35% above CT |
48.4±3.8 18% above CT |
| Lyme and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±5.4 CT: 20.2% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Beacon Falls and Sprague 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% |
19.9%±3.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
30.7%±4.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
23.5%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Lyme and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6% CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
63.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
44.6% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
2.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Beacon Falls and Deep River 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 |
$92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
$135,000±$22kHighest 41% above CT |
$101,516±$42k 6% above CT |
| Lyme 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±$26k about the CT average |
$273,500±$17kLowest 25% below CT |
$629,900±$105kHighest 72% above CT |
$350,300±$34k 5% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$185Lowest 18% below CT |
$1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$1,719±$1k 16% above CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
| Beacon Falls and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,092 8% below CT |
$4,668Lowest 30% below CT |
$7,328Highest 10% above CT |
$6,534 about the CT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.2%±22.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
32.9%±44.3 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%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
2.9% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% CT: 66.5% |
67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
90.8%Highest CT: 66.5% |
85.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
31 min 17% above CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
| Work from home | 15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
27.6%±10Highest CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4 CT: 16% |
| Lyme and Beacon Falls 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 | Sprague School District | Regional School District 18 | 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.