Compare towns
Mapleton vs Sturbridge vs Douglas vs Pittston
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 most affordable homes ($192k median).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Pittston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
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 | Sturbridge | Douglas | Pittston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884Lowest |
9,960Highest |
9,207 |
3,093 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
41.4±5.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Douglas 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% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Douglas 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% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge and Pittston 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% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$86,614±$18kLowest 7% above 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±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$238,700±$66k 28% 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±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,080±$593 24% 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 | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$1,909 39% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±34.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pittston and Sturbridge 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.8%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #123 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Douglas | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Highest |
7.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.