Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Suffield vs Berlin vs Whately
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 most kids (18.7% under 18).
Suffield has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
Berlin has the most expensive homes ($617k median).
Whately has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,443 |
15,702Highest |
3,378 |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% 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. |
49.3±6.7 27% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Whately 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% |
24.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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% |
47.6% 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%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,568±$34kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$116,563±$15kLowest 44% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Berlin 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. |
$431,500±$22k 30% 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. |
$977±$125Lowest 31% 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 | $6,410 106% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$5,027Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.1%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.7%±29Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest 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. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below 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% |
20.4%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Whately 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 | — |
| School district | — | Suffield School District | Berlin-Boylston | Whately |
| High school in town | — | Suffield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— | — |
| 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.