Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Suffield vs Wilbraham vs Brookfield
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 highest household income ($137k).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Wilbraham has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k 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 | Sturbridge | Suffield | Wilbraham | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
15,702Highest |
14,572 |
3,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
44.3±2.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilbraham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$122,051±$14k 51% above U.S. |
$81,250±$37kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Sturbridge and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$416,000±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$341,900±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Sturbridge and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,175±$241 17% below U.S. |
$1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Suffield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$6,658Highest 113% above U.S. |
$5,092Lowest 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilbraham and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #57 of 149 in CT | #88 of 282 in MA | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Suffield School District | Hampden-Wilbraham | Brookfield |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Suffield High School | Minnechaug Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
10.9 |
14.2Highest |
— |
| 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.