Compare towns
Lisbon vs Chaplin vs Sprague vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lisbon has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Sprague has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% 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.
| Measure | Lisbon | Chaplin | Sprague | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,211 |
2,070Lowest |
2,962 |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.2 8% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
48.5±10.7Highest 18% above CT |
38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
| Sprague and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±6.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±5.4 CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Lisbon and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
19.9%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Lisbon and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
25.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
23.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,708±$12k 3% below CT |
$97,846±$14kHighest about the CT average |
$92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
| Chaplin and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,700±$26kHighest 14% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$273,500±$17k 25% below CT |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
| Lisbon and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,247±$144Lowest 16% below CT |
$1,253±$68 16% below CT |
| Chaplin and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,044Lowest 39% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$4,668 30% below CT |
$4,703Highest 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
67.2% CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.4 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Lisbon 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 | #102 of 149 in CT | — | #141 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Lisbon School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Sprague School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Parish Hill High School | None in town | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| 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.