Compare towns
Sprague vs Webster vs Bethlehem vs Lisbon
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 affordable homes ($274k median).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Lisbon has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Webster | Bethlehem | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962Lowest |
12,228Highest |
3,423 |
4,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7 25% above U.S. |
37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.5±5.2 14% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lisbon and Webster 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% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster 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±$11k 15% above U.S. |
$63,837±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$108,929±$16kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$92,708±$12k 15% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,500±$17kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$333,100±$14k about the U.S. average |
$410,900±$36kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$315,700±$26k 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,198±$85 15% below U.S. |
$1,127±$124Lowest 20% below U.S. |
— |
| Sprague and Webster 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. |
$3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$5,932Highest 90% above U.S. |
$4,044 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±75.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Lisbon 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #82 of 149 in CT | #102 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | — | Regional School District 14 | Lisbon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.