Compare towns
Beacon Falls vs Sturbridge vs Bethany
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beacon Falls has the most affordable homes ($350k median).
Sturbridge has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Beacon Falls | Sturbridge | Bethany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,147 |
9,960Highest |
5,288Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.4±3.8Highest 24% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
42.5±2.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Beacon Falls and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Beacon Falls and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
58%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bethany and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,516±$42kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$166,236±$20kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Bethany and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,300±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$418,000±$42k 26% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,921±$286Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,534 109% above U.S. |
$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$8,313Highest 167% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±30.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Beacon Falls and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Beacon Falls and Sturbridge 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 | #77 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA | #30 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 |
| High school in town | Woodland Regional High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
7.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.