Compare towns
Sprague vs Rowley vs Bethlehem vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sprague has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($667k median).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (13.9%).
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 | Rowley | Bethlehem | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962 |
6,251Highest |
3,423 |
2,004Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7 25% above U.S. |
50±6.3 29% above U.S. |
51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.3±4.3Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Rowley 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rowley 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 15% above U.S. |
$132,734±$32kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$108,929±$16k 35% above U.S. |
$105,000±$10k 30% above U.S. |
| Rowley 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±$17kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$667,300±$52kHighest 101% above U.S. |
$410,900±$36k 24% above U.S. |
$326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144 12% below U.S. |
$1,603±$520Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,127±$124 20% below U.S. |
$767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Rowley and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,668 50% above U.S. |
$8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
$5,932 90% above U.S. |
$3,934Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Rowley 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #82 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sprague School District | Triton | Regional School District 14 | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
U.S. 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.