Compare towns
Sterling vs Suffield vs Wolcott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($326k 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 | Sterling | Suffield | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183Lowest |
15,702 |
16,279Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
44.4±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wolcott and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wolcott and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$110,850±$10kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$326,200±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,464±$913 4% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$5,799Lowest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.8%±24.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Suffield and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield and Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #76 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Wachusett | Suffield School District | Wolcott School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | Wolcott High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
10.1Lowest |
| 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.