Compare towns
Sprague vs Ayer vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sprague has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Bethlehem has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Sprague | Ayer | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,962Lowest |
8,645Highest |
3,423 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7 25% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Sprague 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,850±$11kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$108,929±$16kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,500±$17kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$410,900±$36k 24% above U.S. |
| Ayer and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144 12% below U.S. |
$1,415±$180Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,127±$124Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Ayer and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,668Lowest 50% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$5,932Highest 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Bethlehem 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 | #141 of 149 in CT | #113 of 282 in MA | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.