Compare towns
Groton vs Sturbridge vs Norwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the shortest commute (32 min average).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Norwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Groton | Sturbridge | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390Highest |
9,960Lowest |
11,361 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 28.3%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Groton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA |
$188,699±$25k 82% above MA |
| Groton and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46k 32% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335 17% below MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Groton and Norwell 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 | #39 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Norwell |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
7.7Lowest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.