Compare towns
Sprague vs Hampton vs Putnam vs Voluntown
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 housing (typical home built 1959).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Voluntown has the most expensive homes ($356k 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 | Hampton | Putnam | Voluntown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962 |
1,647Lowest |
9,292Highest |
2,604 |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
51.5±5.3Highest 25% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
48.3±1.7 18% above CT |
| Hampton 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% |
19.7%±5.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
16.4%±3.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Hampton and Putnam 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
17.6%±3Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
29.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
26.7% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
1.9%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.4%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Putnam and Voluntown 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 |
$109,167±$19kHighest 14% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$101,964±$25k 6% above CT |
| Hampton and Voluntown 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 |
$295,800±$27k 19% below CT |
$269,200±$11kLowest 27% below CT |
$356,100±$16kHighest about the CT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$1,285±$288Highest 14% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% below CT |
$1,166±$191 22% below CT |
| Hampton 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 |
$4,364 34% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,955Highest 25% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.5%±51.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
42.9%±24.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Hampton and Voluntown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
5.7%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
7.3% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% CT: 66.5% |
90%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
83.5% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1980 13 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1983Highest 16 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
31 minHighest 18% above CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±5.1Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
8.9%±5.4 CT: 16% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #141 of 149 in CT | — | #128 of 149 in CT | #53 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | Hampton School District | Putnam School District | Voluntown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.