Compare towns
Sterling vs Enfield vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Enfield has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Sturbridge has the most kids (20.7% 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 | Sterling | Enfield | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183Lowest |
41,090Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.7±1.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
| Sterling and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sterling and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sterling and Sturbridge 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 60% above U.S. |
$90,404±$5kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| 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 50% above U.S. |
$252,900±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,574±$83 11% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Sterling and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,360Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Enfield and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #123 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Capitol Region Education Council · Enfield School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | None in town | Enfield High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
7.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.