Compare towns
Sprague vs Preston vs Plainville
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).
Preston has the most homeowners (91.7%).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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 | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,962Lowest |
4,821 |
17,551Highest |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7Highest 18% above CT |
46.2±7 12% above CT |
44.3±1.5Lowest 8% above CT |
| Sprague and Preston 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%±4.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Preston and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±3.9Lowest CT: 18.5% |
23%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.1%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
| Preston and Plainville 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% |
28.5% CT: 42.5% |
30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.9%±2.4 CT: 7.1% |
6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville 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 |
$84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
| Preston and Sprague 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±$13kHighest about the CT average |
$254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$1,433±$1kHighest 4% below CT |
$1,126±$147Lowest 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 | $4,668Lowest 30% below CT |
$4,749 29% below CT |
$4,798Highest 28% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
52.6%±12.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
| Preston and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest CT: 10% |
2.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
6.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
91.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
67.7% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1970 3 yrs newer than CT |
1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above CT |
22 min 17% below CT |
21 minLowest 20% below CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
10.3%±6 CT: 16% |
10.7%±2Highest CT: 16% |
| Plainville 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 | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | Preston School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.