Compare towns
Sprague vs Johnston vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sprague has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Johnston has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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.
| Measure | Sprague | Johnston | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,962Lowest |
29,835Highest |
3,423 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7 25% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Johnston and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Johnston 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnston 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 15% above U.S. |
$91,866±$6kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$108,929±$16kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem 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±$17kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$355,500±$13k 7% above U.S. |
$410,900±$36kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144 12% below U.S. |
$1,275±$132Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,127±$124Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Johnston and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,668 50% above U.S. |
$4,614Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$5,932Highest 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Johnston 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 | #32 of 38 in RI | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | Johnston | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | Johnston Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.