Compare towns
Sprague vs Thomaston 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 renters (32.8% rent).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Thomaston | Bethlehem | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962 |
7,492Highest |
3,423 |
2,070Lowest |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
41.5±7.7Lowest about the CT average |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
43.7±4.8 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%±5.4 CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston 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 CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest 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% |
34% CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Thomaston 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 |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
| Bethlehem and Thomaston 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 |
$282,600±$23k 23% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,127±$124 24% below CT |
$1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
| 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 30% below CT |
$5,915 11% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1961 6 yrs older 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 |
27 minLowest about the CT average |
29 min 9% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Bethlehem 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sprague School District | Thomaston School District | Regional School District 14 | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | Thomaston High School | None in town | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
— | 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.