Compare towns
Douglas vs Putnam 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
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Douglas | Putnam | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207Lowest |
9,292 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338 103% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sturbridge and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 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 | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Sturbridge 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Putnam School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Putnam High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
9.5Highest |
7.7 |
| 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.