Compare towns
Charlton vs Spencer 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 most kids (24.7% under 18).
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
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 | Spencer | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,435Highest |
12,008 |
9,960Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±4Lowest 8% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
| Spencer 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 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer 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% MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 13% above MA |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
| 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 24% below MA |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
| 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±$415Highest 22% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| 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 23% below MA |
$4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge and Spencer 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric | Spencer-E Brookfield | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School | David Prouty High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
9.9Highest |
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.