Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Middlefield vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Middlefield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Bethlehem | Middlefield | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
4,243 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
51.6±1.9Highest 33% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlefield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlefield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,929±$16k 35% above U.S. |
$99,837±$20kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36k 24% above U.S. |
$376,000±$27kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Lowest 90% above U.S. |
$6,853Highest 120% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±52.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middlefield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Bethlehem 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #65 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Regional School District 13 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.7 |
| 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.