Compare towns
Charlton vs Needham vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charlton has the youngest population (median age 43).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Charlton | Needham | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,435 |
32,459Highest |
9,960Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±4Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.7%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge and Charlton 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Charlton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,587±$8kLowest 13% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,500±$19k 24% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,381±$415 22% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,617Lowest 23% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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 MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #133 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric | Needham | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School | Needham High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
11.9Highest |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.