Compare towns
Mapleton vs Douglas vs Sturbridge vs Washburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k 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 | Mapleton | Douglas | Sturbridge | Washburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
9,207 |
9,960Highest |
1,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
48.2±7.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Washburn and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washburn and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789 43% below U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sturbridge and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Douglas | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | RSU 45/MSAD 45 |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Washburn District High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
7.7 |
12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.