Compare towns

Sprague vs Franklin 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 affordable homes ($274k median).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (13.9%).

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.

MeasureSpragueFranklinBethlehem
People
Population
2,962
2,004Lowest
3,423Highest
Median age
48.5±10.7
18% above CT
40.3±4.3Lowest
about the CT average
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%±5.4
CT: 20.2%
27.2%±5.9Highest
CT: 20.2%
16.3%±4Lowest
CT: 20.2%
Franklin 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%
17.4%±1.9Lowest
CT: 18.5%
24.5%±5.3Highest
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%
27.8%
CT: 42.5%
39.2%Highest
CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.6%±0.6Lowest
CT: 7.1%
4.2%±1.4
CT: 7.1%
4.5%±3.1Highest
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
$105,000±$10k
10% above CT
$108,929±$16kHighest
14% 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
$326,200±$20k
11% below CT
$410,900±$36kHighest
12% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,247±$144Highest
16% below CT
$767±$529Lowest
48% below CT
$1,127±$124
24% 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
$3,934Lowest
41% below CT
$5,932Highest
11% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
26.9%±12.2
CT: 52.6%
19.5%±18.4Lowest
CT: 52.6%
69.7%±38.5Highest
CT: 52.6%
Bethlehem and Sprague 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%
8.7%
CT: 10%
10.4%Highest
CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.2%Lowest
CT: 66.5%
84.1%Highest
CT: 66.5%
70.2%
CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959Lowest
8 yrs older than CT
1973
6 yrs newer than CT
1976Highest
9 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
Work from home
5%±2.9Lowest
CT: 16%
6.8%±2.4
CT: 16%
13.9%±5Highest
CT: 16%
Bethlehem and Franklin 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 Franklin School District Regional School District 14
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

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.