Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Millis 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).
Millis has the most expensive homes ($604k median).
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 | Millis | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
8,888 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.4±3Lowest 19% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Millis 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% |
54.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Millis 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±$16kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$155,996±$9kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
| Millis and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,900±$36kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$603,500±$31kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,127±$124Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,696±$279Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Millis and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932Lowest 90% above U.S. |
$9,344Highest 200% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.5%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Millis 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Millis 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Millis | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | None in town | Millis High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.