Compare towns
Berkley vs Sturbridge vs Ashburnham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berkley has the most expensive homes ($511k median).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k 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 | Berkley | Sturbridge | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,829 |
9,960Highest |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.1 9% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Sturbridge and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $144,205±$49kHighest 39% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$118,809±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
| Berkley and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,200±$45kHighest 9% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
| Ashburnham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,018Lowest about the MA average |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$6,046 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge and Ashburnham 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 | #155 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berkley | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| 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 |
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.