Compare towns
Charlton vs Ogunquit vs Sturbridge vs Spencer
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Sturbridge | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,435Highest |
1,379Lowest |
9,960 |
12,008 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlton and Spencer 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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±$19k 28% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$382,000±$22kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,381±$415Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Charlton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,617 48% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,387Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±9.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #133 of 282 in MA | — | #89 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School | — | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
— | 7.7Lowest |
9.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.