Compare towns
Sprague vs Beacon Falls vs Norwich
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 oldest population (median age 48.5).
Beacon Falls has the most people working from home (20.3%).
Norwich has the youngest population (median age 38.5).
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 | Beacon Falls | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,962Lowest |
6,147 |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7Highest 18% above CT |
48.4±3.8 18% above CT |
38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
| Sprague and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
18%±4.8 CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich and Beacon Falls 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% |
23.5%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Beacon Falls 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 CT: 42.5% |
44.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
23.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.3%±3.2 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Norwich and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
$101,516±$42kHighest 6% above CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
| Beacon Falls and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,500±$17k 25% below CT |
$350,300±$34kHighest 5% below CT |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144Lowest 16% below CT |
$1,921±$286Highest 29% above CT |
$1,253±$68 16% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,668Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,534Highest about the CT average |
$4,703 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
50.7%±30.4 CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
2.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% CT: 66.5% |
85.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1985Highest 18 yrs newer than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
33 minHighest 23% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
20.3%±7.4Highest CT: 16% |
7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #141 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | Regional School District 16 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Woodland Regional High School | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.