Compare towns
Sterling vs Raynham 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 oldest population (median age 51.5).
Raynham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.1%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k 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 | Sterling | Raynham | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183Lowest |
15,505Highest |
9,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
42.9±1.5Lowest 7% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge and Raynham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling and Raynham 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% |
39.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 24% above MA |
$124,012±$16kLowest 19% above 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±$48k 11% below MA |
$524,400±$29kHighest 7% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
| Raynham and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$1,749±$74Highest about the MA average |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
| Raynham and Sterling 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 |
$6,752 13% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Raynham 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% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 18% above MA |
36 min 25% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
11.8%±3.4Lowest 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 | #190 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Bridgewater-Raynham | 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 Our Story | 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.