Compare towns
Middlefield vs Sturbridge vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k 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 | Middlefield | Sturbridge | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 352Lowest |
9,960Highest |
630 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
47.2±2.6Lowest 18% above MA |
52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
| Middlefield and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Peru and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8% MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,750±$23k about the MA average |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$90,750±$18kLowest 13% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
— |
| Middlefield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,926 18% below MA |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest about the MA average |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge and Middlefield 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 | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | — |
| High school 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 |
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.