Compare towns
Sprague vs Orange vs Bethlehem 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 most affordable homes ($274k median).
Orange has the highest household income ($142k).
Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Orange | Bethlehem | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962 |
14,315Highest |
3,423 |
2,004Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
45.6±2.4 11% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
40.3±4.3Lowest about the CT average |
| 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 CT: 20.2% |
22.9%±2.5 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
27.2%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
| Franklin and Orange 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% |
23%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Orange 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% |
59.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
27.8% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
| Orange 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±$11kLowest 3% below CT |
$142,325±$10kHighest 49% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$105,000±$10k 10% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,500±$17kLowest 25% below CT |
$491,500±$17kHighest 34% above CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
$326,200±$20k 11% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$2,172±$161Highest 46% above CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$767±$529Lowest 48% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,668 30% below CT |
$8,988Highest 35% above CT |
$5,932 11% below CT |
$3,934Lowest 41% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
64%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
3.9%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
89.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
84.1% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
1973 6 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above CT |
28 min 4% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
15.6%±2.9Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
6.8%±2.4 CT: 16% |
| Orange and Bethlehem 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 | #38 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sprague School District | — | Regional School District 14 | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.