Compare towns
Charlton vs Windsor Locks 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).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
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 | Windsor Locks | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,435Highest |
12,579 |
9,960Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±4 11% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlton and Windsor Locks 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below 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 |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Charlton 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric | Windsor Locks School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School | Windsor Locks High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Highest |
8.9 |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.