Compare towns
Sprague vs Bantam vs Bethlehem vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sprague has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Bantam has the most renters (50.9% rent).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% 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 | Sprague | Bantam | Bethlehem | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962 |
810Lowest |
3,423Highest |
2,004 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
47.2±15.7 15% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
40.3±4.3Lowest about the CT average |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
18.8%±6.5 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Bantam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
25.4%±8.5Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bantam and Bethlehem 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% |
26.2% CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.1%±2.3 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Bethlehem and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,850±$11kLowest 3% below CT |
— | $108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,500±$17kLowest 25% below CT |
$317,700±$40k 13% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144Highest 16% below CT |
$688±$106Lowest 54% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$767±$529 48% below CT |
| Sprague and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,668 30% below CT |
$3,984 40% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
57.3%±12.9 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Bantam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
14.4%Highest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% CT: 66.5% |
49.1%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
29 min 9% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
16%±7.9Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4 CT: 16% |
| Bantam 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 | — | #82 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sprague School District | — | Regional School District 14 | Franklin 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 | 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.