Compare towns
Strafford vs Tunbridge vs Worcester vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Tunbridge has the most affordable homes ($315k median).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
Warren has the most people working from home (36.2%).
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 | Strafford | Tunbridge | Worcester | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
1,253Lowest |
207,055Highest |
1,585 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
42.7±8.3 10% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
53.1±4.2Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Warren and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
9.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Warren and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$89,464±$26k 11% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$86,905±$16k 8% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$315,300±$23kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
$569,300±$123kHighest 71% above U.S. |
| Warren and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,346±$128 5% below U.S. |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,750±$394Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Warren and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149 129% above U.S. |
$4,645Lowest 49% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
$7,284Highest 134% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.3%±26.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Tunbridge and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.2%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Warren and Tunbridge 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 | — | — | #266 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.