Compare towns
Charlton vs Townsend 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).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Townsend | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,435Highest |
9,100Lowest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±4 8% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Charlton 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% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Charlton and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Charlton and Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,500±$19k 24% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Townsend and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,381±$415 22% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
| Townsend and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,617Lowest 23% below MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
37 min 27% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 13%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge and Charlton 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric | North Middlesex | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School | North Middlesex Regional | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
13.1Highest |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.