Compare towns
Sprague vs Brookfield vs Bethlehem vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the highest household income ($148k).
Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% 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 | Sprague | Brookfield | Bethlehem | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962Lowest |
17,706 |
3,423 |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
| 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% |
22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Norwich 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% |
18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| 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 CT: 42.5% |
58.3%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
23.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.3%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Norwich and Bethlehem 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 |
$148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,500±$17k 25% below CT |
$479,700±$24kHighest 31% above CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,253±$68 16% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,668Lowest 30% below CT |
$7,594Highest 14% above CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
$4,703 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
35.9%±13.1 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above CT |
28 min 6% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±3Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
| Brookfield 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 | #67 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | Brookfield School District | Regional School District 14 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Brookfield High School | None in town | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| 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.