Compare towns
Berlin vs Sturbridge vs Waterford
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 oldest population (median age 48.7).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Waterford has the most affordable homes ($356k 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 | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,361Highest |
9,960Lowest |
19,673 |
| 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. |
46±2.4Lowest 18% 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%±2.5Lowest 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% |
22.6%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Lowest 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% |
5.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Waterford 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. |
$104,820±$9kLowest 30% 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. |
$355,900±$14kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,651±$153Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,291Highest 134% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$4,876Lowest 56% 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% |
44.4%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Waterford 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% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Berlin 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 | #80 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Learn · Waterford School District |
| High school in town | Berlin High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Waterford 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.