Compare towns
Sprague vs Norwich vs Chaplin vs Franklin
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 population (median age 48.5).
Norwich has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% 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 | Norwich | Chaplin | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962 |
39,973Highest |
2,070 |
2,004Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.9% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7Highest 18% above CT |
38.5±1.7Lowest 6% below CT |
43.7±4.8 6% above CT |
40.3±4.3 about the CT average |
| Sprague and Chaplin 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% |
20.9%±1.8 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Norwich 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% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Chaplin and Sprague 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% |
23.1% CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
27.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin 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 |
$65,024±$5kLowest 32% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
$105,000±$10kHighest 10% above CT |
| Franklin 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 |
$242,300±$11kLowest 34% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
$326,200±$20kHighest 11% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$1,253±$68 16% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
| Chaplin and Norwich 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 |
$4,703Highest 29% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
56.2%±7.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Norwich and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
16.7%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% CT: 66.5% |
53.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
84.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 8 yrs older than CT |
1957Lowest 10 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
24 minLowest 9% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
7.2%±2 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4 CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Norwich 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 | #133 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Sprague School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Norwich Free Academy | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
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.