Compare towns
Madison vs Sturbridge vs Freedom
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Madison | Sturbridge | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680 |
9,960Highest |
1,494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7 29% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S. |
60.6±3.2Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
12.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,697±$11k 27% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$66,136±$14kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$389,000±$43k 17% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
— |
| Madison and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,074 31% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$3,478Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
79.6%±75Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freedom and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Freedom 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Madison School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Freedom School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| 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.