Compare towns
Sprague vs Washington vs Putnam 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1959).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Putnam has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Washington | Putnam | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962 |
3,676 |
9,292Highest |
2,070Lowest |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
49.9±5.5Highest 21% above CT |
43.7±3Lowest 6% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
| Washington 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% |
19%±4.7Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Washington and Putnam 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Washington 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% |
53.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
6.4%±3.3 CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4 CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
$101,549±$16kHighest 6% above CT |
$70,561±$7kLowest 26% below CT |
$97,846±$14k about the CT average |
| Washington and Chaplin 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 |
$660,200±$130kHighest 80% above CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
$255,200±$24kLowest 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144 16% below CT |
$1,204±$264 19% below CT |
$1,149±$44Lowest 23% 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 |
$4,709Highest 29% below CT |
$3,860Lowest 42% below CT |
$4,524 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2 CT: 52.6% |
26.1%±24Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7 CT: 52.6% |
| Putnam and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% CT: 10% |
9% CT: 10% |
11.5%Highest CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% CT: 66.5% |
79% CT: 66.5% |
59.8%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
82.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
26 min 4% below CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
20.1%±9Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
18.1%±10 CT: 16% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Sprague School District | Regional School District 12 | Putnam School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepaug Valley School | Putnam High School | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1 |
9.5Highest |
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.