Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Sturbridge vs Middlefield vs Westbrook
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).
Sturbridge has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Middlefield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Westbrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Sturbridge | Middlefield | Westbrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,423Lowest |
9,960Highest |
4,243 |
6,856 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±8.5 32% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S. |
51.6±1.9 33% above U.S. |
58.2±3.7Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
9.6%±2.6Lowest 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% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±7.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
36%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westbrook and Middlefield 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% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest 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. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$99,837±$20k 24% above U.S. |
$91,202±$23kLowest 13% 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. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$376,000±$27kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$434,300±$42kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Westbrook and Sturbridge 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. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
$1,425±$176 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,932 90% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,853Highest 120% above U.S. |
$5,829Lowest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.7%±38.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±52.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±17.2 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Westbrook 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #65 of 149 in CT | #59 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 14 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Regional School District 13 | Westbrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town | Westbrook High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Highest |
— | 6.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.