Compare towns
Sprague vs Washington vs Bethlehem
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 affordable homes ($274k median).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Bethlehem has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Washington | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,962Lowest |
3,676Highest |
3,423 |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7Lowest 18% above CT |
49.9±5.5 21% above CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Washington 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% |
19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Washington 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington and Bethlehem 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% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
39.2% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Washington 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 |
$101,549±$16k 6% above CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,500±$17kLowest 25% below CT |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$410,900±$36k 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144Highest 16% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,127±$124Lowest 24% below CT |
| Sprague and Washington 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 |
$4,709 29% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
10.4%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
79%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976Highest 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above CT |
26 minLowest 4% below CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
13.9%±5 CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | Regional School District 12 | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1 |
— |
| 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.