Compare towns
Cornish vs Sturbridge vs Hiram
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Hiram has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
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 | Cornish | Sturbridge | Hiram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,803 |
9,960Highest |
1,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.6±10.2 7% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Hiram are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hiram and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,038±$4k 14% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$62,813±$10kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$84k 18% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$256,600±$42kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,196±$148Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,070±$161Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,309 26% below U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$2,106Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hiram and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #89 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | RSU 55/MSAD 55 |
| High school in town | — | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sacopee Valley High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
9.9Highest |
| 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.