Compare towns
Sprague vs Preston vs Plainfield 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 renters (32.8% rent).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (13.9%).
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 | Preston | Plainfield | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962Lowest |
4,821 |
15,141Highest |
3,423 |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below 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%±5.4 CT: 20.2% |
18.7%±4.4 CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Plainfield and Preston 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%±4.7 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2% CT: 42.5% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Plainfield and Preston 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 |
$116,648±$27kHighest 22% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
| Preston and Bethlehem 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 |
$361,900±$13k about the CT average |
$272,100±$16kLowest 26% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,204±$70 19% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
| Preston and Sprague 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 |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$4,209Lowest 37% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
73.6% CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above CT |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
27 min about the CT average |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
10%±4 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem and Preston 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 | #93 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | Preston School District | Plainfield School District | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
— |
| 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.