Compare towns
Franklin vs Sturbridge vs Sterling
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k 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 | Franklin | Sturbridge | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,004Lowest |
9,960Highest |
3,629 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40.3±4.3 4% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest 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% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest 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±$10k 30% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,200±$20k about the U.S. average |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$529Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
— |
| Sturbridge and Franklin 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. |
$4,551 46% 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% |
32%±18.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sturbridge and Sterling 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Sterling 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 | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Franklin School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 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.