Compare towns
Sterling vs Sturbridge vs Wareham
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).
Sturbridge has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Wareham 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 | Sterling | Sturbridge | Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183Lowest |
9,960 |
23,302Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8 29% above MA |
47.2±2.6Lowest 18% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
| Wareham 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% |
20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest 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% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham 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% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham 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 |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below 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 |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
| Sterling and Wareham 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 |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Wareham |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Wareham Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
8.6Highest |
| 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.