Compare towns
Sprague vs Sturbridge vs Chaplin
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 renters (32.8% rent).
Sturbridge has the most expensive homes ($426k median).
Chaplin has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Sturbridge | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,962 |
9,960Highest |
2,070Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7Highest 25% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Sprague and Sturbridge 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% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Sprague 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% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Sturbridge 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. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,500±$17k 18% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144 12% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Chaplin 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. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sturbridge and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Chaplin 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Sprague School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Highest |
7.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.