Compare towns
Berlin vs Sturbridge vs Watertown
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 most people working from home (19.8%).
Watertown has the most affordable homes ($334k 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 | Watertown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,361 |
9,960Lowest |
22,253Highest |
| 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. |
46.3±2.9Lowest 19% 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% |
17.7%±2.6Lowest 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% |
23.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Watertown 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% |
38.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Sturbridge 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. |
$101,691±$7kLowest 26% 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. |
$333,500±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,275±$227 10% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Watertown 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. |
$6,014Lowest 93% 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% |
56.6%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Watertown 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% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 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 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±2.3Lowest 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 | #126 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Berlin School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Watertown School District |
| High school in town | Berlin High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Watertown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
7.7Lowest |
10.6 |
| 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.