Compare towns
Holland vs Putney 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
Holland has the most homeowners (95%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
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 | Holland | Putney | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,583Lowest |
2,622 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±7.8Highest 33% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Holland and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Holland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,979±$12k 14% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,600±$33k about the U.S. average |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$209Highest 24% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Holland and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,279Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Holland and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 37% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Putney 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 | #182 of 282 in MA | #32 of 70 in VT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holland | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.