Compare towns
Oxford vs Saugus 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 kids (21.3% under 18).
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k 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 | Saugus | Suffield | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,991 |
28,773Highest |
15,702 |
6,147Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 45.2±5.7 16% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Lowest 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%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Oxford and Beacon Falls 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% |
22%±2.1 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saugus and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,953±$23kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$101,516±$42kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Oxford and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,400±$20k 42% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13kHighest 81% 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 |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,921±$286 36% above U.S. |
| Saugus and Beacon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,442 107% above U.S. |
$6,049Lowest 94% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$6,534Highest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.3%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±30.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saugus and Suffield 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% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5%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. |
1962Lowest 18 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. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Beacon Falls and Suffield 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 | #194 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Oxford School District | Saugus | Suffield School District | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | Oxford High School | Saugus High | Suffield High School | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
15.5Highest |
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.