Compare towns
Lancaster vs Mapleton 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
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Lancaster | Mapleton | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
1,884Lowest |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 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 | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | — | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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 | 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.