Compare towns
Sterling vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Thompson | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183Lowest |
9,337 |
9,960Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8 32% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Thompson 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%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% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
| 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 117% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%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. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Thompson School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Highest |
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.