Compare towns

Beacon Falls vs Sturbridge vs Haddam

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 highest household income ($137k).
Haddam has the shortest commute (31 min average).

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.

MeasureBeacon FallsSturbridgeHaddam
People
Population
6,147Lowest
9,960Highest
8,644
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.
45.9±2.6Lowest
18% 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%±3
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Haddam and Sturbridge 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%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Beacon Falls and Haddam 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Beacon Falls and Haddam 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±$15kHighest
69% above U.S.
$114,426±$15k
42% above U.S.
Sturbridge and Haddam 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.
$379,700±$25k
14% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,921±$286Highest
36% above U.S.
$1,193±$398Lowest
16% below U.S.
$1,567±$258
11% above U.S.
Beacon Falls and Haddam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,534
109% above U.S.
$6,520Lowest
109% above U.S.
$7,045Highest
126% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.7%±30.4
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.2%±47Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Haddam and Beacon Falls 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%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
24% above U.S.
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
31 minLowest
16% above U.S.
Work from home
20.3%±7.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
11.8%±3.3Lowest
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 #25 of 149 in CT
School district Regional School District 16 Sturbridge · Tantasqua Regional School District 17
High school in town Woodland Regional High School Tantasqua Regional Sr High Haddam-Killingworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2Highest
7.7Lowest
9.5
On TownTapestry
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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.