Compare towns
Sprague vs Mansfield vs Chaplin 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 kids (17.1% under 18).
Mansfield has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Chaplin has the most homeowners (82.9%).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Mansfield is a college town. 57% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Mansfield | Chaplin | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962 |
25,358Highest |
2,070Lowest |
3,423 |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
21.2±0.2Lowest 48% below CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
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%±5.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
9.2%±1.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
| Sprague and Bethlehem 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% |
11%±1.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem 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% |
57.9%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
57%±2.5Highest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
$72,393±$12kLowest 24% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Chaplin 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 |
$335,400±$20k 9% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$1,602±$104Highest 8% above CT |
$1,473±$275 about the CT average |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
| Mansfield and Chaplin 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 |
$5,727 14% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
76%±9.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
| Mansfield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
21.6%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% CT: 66.5% |
57.3%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
21 minLowest 22% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
28.3%±3.3Highest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
| Mansfield and Chaplin 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 | #45 of 149 in CT | — | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | Regional School District 19 · Mansfield School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | E. O. Smith High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.