Compare towns
Franklin vs Sturbridge vs Lebanon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Franklin | Sturbridge | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,004Lowest |
9,960Highest |
7,116 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3Lowest 4% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
46.9±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lebanon and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,000±$10kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$109,135±$19k 35% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,200±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$345,900±$40k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,630±$534Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,934Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$5,646 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.5%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sturbridge and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | #74 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Franklin School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Lyman Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
8.9Highest |
| 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.