Compare towns
Pepperell vs Sturbridge vs Buckland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Buckland has the most affordable homes ($321k 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 | Pepperell | Sturbridge | Buckland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971Lowest |
9,960Highest |
2,036 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±6.3Lowest 16% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
49.5±5.4Highest 24% above MA |
| Buckland and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge and Buckland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Buckland and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,726±$17kLowest 26% below MA |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$82,877±$6k 20% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,300±$40kHighest 19% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$321,400±$25kLowest 43% below MA |
| Pepperell and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,139±$301 35% below MA |
$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA |
$1,111±$213Lowest 37% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,871Highest 15% above MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$4,761Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±20.7 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Buckland and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
13%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge and Buckland 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Mohawk Trail Regional School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
9.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.