Compare towns
Oxford vs Suffield vs Walpole 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%).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Walpole has the most expensive homes ($687k median).
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 | Suffield | Walpole | Beacon Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,991 |
15,702 |
26,388Highest |
6,147Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.2±5.7 16% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
40.9±1.2Lowest 5% 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% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Walpole 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% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest 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% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Beacon Falls and Walpole 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. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$101,516±$42kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $472,400±$20k 42% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$687,100±$20kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$350,300±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$87Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,921±$286 36% above U.S. |
| Walpole 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. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$8,523Highest 173% above U.S. |
$6,534 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.3%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±9.1 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% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.3%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walpole 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #107 of 282 in MA | #77 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Oxford School District | Suffield School District | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Regional School District 16 |
| High school in town | Oxford High School | Suffield High School | Walpole High | Woodland Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
10.9 |
11.3Highest |
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.