Compare towns
Lisbon vs Colebrook vs Putnam vs Sprague
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 kids (22.1% under 18).
Colebrook has the highest household income ($111k).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Sprague has the oldest housing (typical home built 1959).
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 | Colebrook | Putnam | Sprague |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,211 |
1,494Lowest |
9,292Highest |
2,962 |
| Median age | 44.5±5.2 8% above CT |
52.1±5Highest 27% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
| Colebrook and Sprague 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% |
17.9%±3.9 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±5.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Lisbon and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3 CT: 18.5% |
26%±4.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.9%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Colebrook and Lisbon 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% |
36.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Colebrook and Lisbon 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 |
$111,250±$17kHighest 16% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
| Colebrook 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±$26k 14% below CT |
$342,800±$19kHighest 7% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$273,500±$17k 25% below CT |
| Colebrook and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$626Highest 10% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,247±$144 16% below CT |
| Colebrook and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,044 39% below CT |
$6,211Highest 7% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,668 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
42.1%±55 CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
8.1% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
91.6% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
67.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1960 7 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
34 minHighest 29% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
30 min 12% above CT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.4 CT: 16% |
7%±3.8 CT: 16% |
9%±2.8Highest CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Putnam 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #141 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Lisbon School District | Colebrook School District | Putnam School District | Sprague School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.