Compare towns
Hanover vs Sturbridge vs Medway
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($755k median).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Medway has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Hanover | Sturbridge | Medway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,845Highest |
9,960Lowest |
13,436 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.4 4% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
40.7±2.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8% MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA |
$173,750±$18k 67% above MA |
| Hanover and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$617,300±$21k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,575±$205 11% below MA |
| Hanover and Medway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,342Highest 56% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$8,730 46% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
35.3%±21.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanover and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 14 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
20.7%±3.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Medway 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 | #69 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #40 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Medway |
| High school in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Medway High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
7.7Lowest |
13.8Highest |
| 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.