Compare towns
Lisbon vs Columbia 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).
Columbia has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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.
| Measure | Lisbon | Columbia | Sprague |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,211 |
5,300Highest |
2,962Lowest |
| Median age | 44.5±5.2Lowest 8% above CT |
51.3±10.3Highest 25% above CT |
48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
| Columbia 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% |
13.7%±4.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
17.1%±5.4 CT: 20.2% |
| Lisbon and Sprague 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% |
24.9%±5.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
19.9%±3.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Columbia 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% |
34.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.8%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Columbia 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±$12kLowest 3% below CT |
$127,000±$30kHighest 33% above CT |
$92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
| Columbia 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 |
$361,500±$16kHighest about the CT average |
$273,500±$17kLowest 25% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $966±$304Lowest 35% below CT |
$1,247±$144Highest 16% below CT |
| Sprague and Columbia 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 |
$5,228Highest 21% below CT |
$4,668 30% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
17.6%±16.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
26.9%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Lisbon and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% CT: 10% |
6.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
83.3% CT: 66.5% |
67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1984Highest 17 yrs newer than CT |
1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above CT |
32 minHighest 21% above CT |
30 minLowest 12% above CT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.4 CT: 16% |
21.6%±6Highest CT: 16% |
5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #102 of 149 in CT | #114 of 149 in CT | #141 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Lisbon School District | Columbia School District | Sprague School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.