Compare towns
Belgrade vs Sturbridge vs Rome
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belgrade has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
Rome has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.7%).
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 | Belgrade | Sturbridge | Rome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,351 |
9,960Highest |
1,215Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 22% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S. |
48.3±9.2Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Rome and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Belgrade and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rome and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±4.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Belgrade and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,338±$13k 9% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$77,639±$25kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,200±$44kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$329,300±$36k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $857±$108Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,150±$56 19% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Rome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,859 8% below U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$1,829Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±59.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rome and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Belgrade and Sturbridge 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 | #71 of 133 in ME | #89 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 18 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | — |
| 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.