Compare towns
Sterling vs Brookfield vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Sterling | Brookfield | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183 |
3,460Lowest |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8 29% above MA |
52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
47.2±2.6Lowest 18% above MA |
| Brookfield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4 MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
$81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
| Sterling and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757Highest 13% above MA |
$5,092Lowest 15% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Brookfield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge and Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #109 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Brookfield | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.