Compare towns
Charlton vs Lyndeborough vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
Lyndeborough has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Charlton | Lyndeborough | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,435Highest |
1,616Lowest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Charlton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyndeborough and Sturbridge 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,587±$8k 46% above U.S. |
$116,964±$17kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,500±$19kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$390,900±$26kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Charlton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,381±$415 about the U.S. average |
$1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,617Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 24% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
38 min 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Lyndeborough 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 | #133 of 282 in MA | — | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 7 photos → | 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.