Compare towns
Bath vs Sturbridge vs Lempster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bath has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Lempster has the most homeowners (98.2%).
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 | Bath | Sturbridge | Lempster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,097 |
9,960Highest |
953Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±8.6 25% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S. |
50.8±7.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Lempster and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bath and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bath and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lempster and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,813±$22kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$86,607±$12k 7% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,400±$23kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$241,900±$29k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,438±$309Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
— |
| Bath and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,413Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,558 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.9%±61.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lempster and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #89 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Bath School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Lempster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.