Compare towns
Russell vs Sturbridge vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Russell has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Russell | Sturbridge | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,197Lowest |
9,960Highest |
1,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.6Highest 19% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
45.9±3.7Lowest 15% above MA |
| Russell and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.4%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4% MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±4.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$24k 5% above MA |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$89,390±$6kLowest 14% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $303,300±$32k 46% below MA |
$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA |
$281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA |
$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA |
$1,104±$71 37% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,104 15% below MA |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$4,522Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Chester and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 3% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #89 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Gateway |
| High school in town | — | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| 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.