Compare towns
Mount Washington vs Sturbridge vs Middlefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mount Washington has the most expensive homes ($714k median).
Sturbridge has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Middlefield has the most affordable homes ($333k 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 | Mount Washington | Sturbridge | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 193Lowest |
9,960Highest |
352 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.7 30% above MA |
47.2±2.6Lowest 18% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
| Middlefield and Mount Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.1%±14.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge and Mount Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±13 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Middlefield and Mount Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.2% MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±7.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,500±$26kHighest 37% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$103,750±$23kLowest about the MA average |
| Mount Washington and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $714,300±$141kHighest 27% above MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
| Middlefield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,316Lowest 45% below MA |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$4,926 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75%±100 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Mount Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 30.1%±14.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Mount Washington 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 | — |
| 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.