Compare towns
Leicester vs Sturbridge vs Templeton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leicester has the most homeowners (88.5%).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Templeton has the most affordable homes ($359k 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 | Leicester | Sturbridge | Templeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,113Highest |
9,960 |
8,252Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.5 6% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
40.3±5.1Lowest about the MA average |
| Sturbridge and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Templeton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Leicester and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,173±$9k about the MA average |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$101,154±$15kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$23k 27% below MA |
$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA |
$358,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$258Highest 16% below MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,207±$353 31% below MA |
| Leicester and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,452Lowest 26% below MA |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$4,554 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±14.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±26.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Templeton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.9%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge and Templeton 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 | #222 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #244 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Leicester | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Narragansett |
| High school in town | Leicester High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Narragansett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
7.7Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.