Compare towns
Sprague vs Derby vs Chaplin 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 most expensive homes ($274k median).
Chaplin has the most homeowners (82.9%).
Norwich has the most kids (20.9% 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 | Derby | Chaplin | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962 |
12,487 |
2,070Lowest |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5%Lowest CT: +0.9% |
— | -0.9%Highest CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7Highest 18% above CT |
46.4±3.1 13% above CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
| Sprague and Derby 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% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich 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 CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and Chaplin 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% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
23.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Derby 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 |
$79,500±$11k 17% below CT |
$97,846±$14kHighest about the CT average |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
| Chaplin 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±$17kHighest 25% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
| Sprague and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144Lowest 16% below CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$1,253±$68 16% below CT |
| Chaplin and Derby 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 |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$4,703 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
10.8% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% CT: 66.5% |
61.9% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1967 same as CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Derby 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 | #138 of 149 in CT | — | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | Derby School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Derby High School | Parish Hill High School | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7 |
7.5Lowest |
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.