Compare towns
Abington vs Sturbridge vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Abington has the most expensive homes ($540k median).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Whitman has the most renters (28.6% rent).
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 | Abington | Sturbridge | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,053Highest |
9,960Lowest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Abington and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Whitman and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,400±$12k 21% above MA |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $539,600±$34kHighest 4% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,724±$250 about the MA average |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Whitman and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,045Highest 18% above MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$5,824Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 14% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 15.1%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge and Abington 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 | #143 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Abington | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Abington High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
7.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.