Compare towns
Oxford vs Reading vs Suffield vs Beacon Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Oxford has the most homeowners (90.4%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Beacon Falls has the most affordable homes ($350k 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 | Oxford | Reading | Suffield | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,991 |
25,612Highest |
15,702 |
6,147Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.2±5.7 16% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
48.4±3.8Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Beacon Falls and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Beacon Falls and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Beacon Falls and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,953±$23k 60% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$101,516±$42kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,400±$20k 42% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$350,300±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$87Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,921±$286 36% above U.S. |
| Reading and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,442Lowest 107% above U.S. |
$9,320Highest 199% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$6,534 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.3%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±30.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Suffield and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Beacon Falls 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 | #78 of 149 in CT | #50 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Oxford School District | Reading | Suffield School District | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | Oxford High School | Reading Memorial High | Suffield High School | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
10.9 |
11.2 |
| 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.