Compare towns
Middletown vs Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middletown has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Vernon has the most affordable homes ($276k 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 | Middletown | Sturbridge | Sutton | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 47,958Highest |
9,960 |
9,452Lowest |
30,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.1±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
39.4±2.5 about the U.S. average |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.5%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$85,356±$6k 6% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,300±$11k 11% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$275,500±$11kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,446±$45Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,425±$77 about the U.S. average |
| Middletown and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,412 106% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,804Lowest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middletown and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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 | #121 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #107 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | Middletown High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | Rockville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
7.7Lowest |
12.6Highest |
12.1 |
| 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.