Compare towns
Middlefield vs Sturbridge vs Meriden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Meriden has the most affordable homes ($241k 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 | Middlefield | Sturbridge | Meriden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,243Lowest |
9,960 |
60,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.6±1.9Highest 33% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
38.9±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Middlefield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Meriden and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlefield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlefield and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,837±$20k 24% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$71,253±$4kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,000±$27k 13% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$241,200±$7kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,294±$72 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,853Highest 120% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$5,129Lowest 64% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±52.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±4.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middlefield and Meriden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.9%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Middlefield 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA | #124 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 13 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Meriden School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Francis T. Maloney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| 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.