Compare towns
Sherborn vs Sturbridge vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Topsfield has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Sherborn | Sturbridge | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,427Lowest |
9,960Highest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±2.3 7% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 29.2%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Sherborn and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 82.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA |
$195,718±$16k 88% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,026,800±$72kHighest 83% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$316Highest 33% above MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±26.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Sherborn and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 21% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #53 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sherborn | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7 |
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| 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.