Compare towns
Sprague vs Middlefield vs Bethlehem vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the most homeowners (86.5%).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Norwich has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Middlefield | Bethlehem | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962Lowest |
4,243 |
3,423 |
39,973Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
51.6±1.9Highest 26% above CT |
51.5±8.5 25% above CT |
38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
| Middlefield and Bethlehem 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% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
20.9%±1.8Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Norwich 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% |
25.5%±7.2Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Middlefield and Bethlehem 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% |
41.5%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
23.1% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.7%±2.4Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
| Middlefield and Norwich 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 |
$99,837±$20k 4% above CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Middlefield 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 |
$376,000±$27k about the CT average |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$3,501Highest 135% above CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,253±$68 16% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,668Lowest 30% below CT |
$6,853Highest 3% above CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
$4,703 29% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
85.4%±52.1Highest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5 CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2 CT: 52.6% |
| Middlefield and Bethlehem 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% |
8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% CT: 66.5% |
86.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
10.9%±4.1 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem and Middlefield 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | #133 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | Regional School District 13 | Regional School District 14 | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.