Compare towns
Sprague vs Deep River vs Chaplin vs Bethlehem
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 kids (17.1% under 18).
Deep River has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
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 | Deep River | Chaplin | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962 |
4,458Highest |
2,070Lowest |
3,423 |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
46.2±5.6 12% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above 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%±5.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.6%±4.7 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
| Sprague and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±3.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
22.1%±4.1 CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Deep River 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% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
3.8%±2.2 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin 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 |
$90,253±$19kLowest 6% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Chaplin 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 |
$362,200±$26k about the CT average |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$1,221±$185 18% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
| Chaplin and Sprague 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 |
$6,092Highest 8% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±22.9 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
8.2% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
69.2% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
15.2%±5.6 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Deep River 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 | #70 of 149 in CT | — | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | Deep River School District · Regional School District 04 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | Valley Regional High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.