Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Suffield vs Berlin vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has the oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Sturbridge has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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 | Sturbridge | Suffield | Berlin | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,443Lowest |
15,702Highest |
3,378 |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±6.8 23% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±7.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,568±$34k 63% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,400±$29k 26% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,009±$225 42% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,410Lowest 106% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.1%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #61 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Suffield School District | Berlin-Boylston | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | — | Suffield High School | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
| 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.