Compare towns
Sandgate vs Sturbridge vs Jay vs Wheelock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k 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 | Sandgate | Sturbridge | Jay | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
9,960Highest |
471 |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
51±5.6 31% above U.S. |
| Sandgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wheelock and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19k 14% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31k 42% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$2,937 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sturbridge and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
38 min 43% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate and Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| 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 | 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.