Compare towns
Adams vs Sturbridge vs North Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
North Brookfield has the youngest population (median age 45.2).
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 | Adams | Sturbridge | North Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,074 |
9,960Highest |
4,760Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±3.3Highest 18% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
45.2±9.4Lowest 13% above MA |
| Adams and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Adams and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,929±$6kLowest 43% below MA |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$79,285±$11k 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA |
$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA |
$359,100±$32k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$74Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA |
$981±$63 44% below MA |
| Sturbridge and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,638Lowest 39% below MA |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$4,176 30% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Adams and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 19% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 28% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge and North Brookfield 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 | #230 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #270 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | North Brookfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | North Brookfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Highest |
5.5Lowest |
| 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.