Compare towns
Beacon Falls vs Sturbridge vs Oxford
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).
Oxford has the most expensive homes ($472k 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 | Beacon Falls | Sturbridge | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,147Lowest |
9,960 |
12,991Highest |
| 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. |
45.2±5.7Lowest 16% 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%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oxford 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% |
22.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Beacon Falls and Oxford 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% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Beacon Falls and Sturbridge 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. |
$128,953±$23k 60% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Oxford 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±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$472,400±$20kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,921±$286Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,415±$87 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,534Highest 109% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,442Lowest 107% 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% |
23.3%±15.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.3%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±3.7Lowest 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 | #78 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 16 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Oxford School District |
| High school in town | Woodland Regional High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Oxford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
7.7Lowest |
10.1 |
| 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.