Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Chaplin vs Southbridge Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering SturbridgeSturbridge
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has the most expensive homes ($418k median).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Southbridge Town has the most renters (57.3% rent).
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 | Sturbridge | Chaplin | Southbridge Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,443 |
2,070Lowest |
17,928Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±6.8Highest 23% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
40.9±2.4Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Southbridge Town and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±7.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,568±$34kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$97,846±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$66,287±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,400±$29kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$294,800±$18k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,009±$225Highest 42% above U.S. |
$1,473±$275 4% above U.S. |
$1,256±$79Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,410Highest 106% above U.S. |
$4,524 45% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.1%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.8%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Southbridge Town and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
42.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±9.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | — | #282 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Southbridge |
| High school in town | — | Parish Hill High School | Southbridge High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.5Lowest |
9.8Highest |
| 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.