Compare towns
Sprague vs Lancaster vs Norwich
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 oldest population (median age 48.5).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).
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 | Lancaster | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,962Lowest |
8,606 |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
38.5±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Sprague and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Lancaster 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. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$65,024±$5kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,500±$17k 18% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$242,300±$11kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,253±$68 11% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,668Lowest 50% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,703 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.2%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Norwich 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #141 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | Nashoba | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Norwich Free Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.8 |
| 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.