Compare towns
Sprague vs Suffield vs Bethlehem vs Chaplin
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 kids (17.1% under 18).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k 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 | Suffield | Bethlehem | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962 |
15,702Highest |
3,423 |
2,070Lowest |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
44.5±1.7 8% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% 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%±5.4Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.2%±2 CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sprague and Bethlehem 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Chaplin 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% |
40.4%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
4.4%±1.2 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin 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 |
$119,472±$13kHighest 25% above CT |
$108,929±$16k 14% above CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
| Suffield 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 |
$407,500±$26k 11% above CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
| Bethlehem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$1,424±$141 4% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Suffield 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 |
$6,456Highest about the CT average |
$5,932 11% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
51%±4.6 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
4.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.7%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
26 minLowest 3% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
18.4%±4.1Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
| Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sprague School District | Suffield School District | Regional School District 14 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | None in town | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
— | 7.5Lowest |
| 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.