Compare towns
Berlin vs Sturbridge vs Cromwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
Cromwell has the most affordable homes ($325k 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 | Berlin | Sturbridge | Cromwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,361Highest |
9,960Lowest |
14,334 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.7±3Highest 25% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
43.5±2.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Cromwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Cromwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,598±$11k 41% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$110,596±$10kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,600±$13k 13% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$325,200±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,628±$154Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Cromwell and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,291Highest 134% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,137Lowest 97% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.4%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Cromwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Cromwell 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 | #73 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA | #69 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Cromwell School District |
| High school in town | Berlin High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Cromwell High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
7.7Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.