Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Dedham vs Whately
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($418k median).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Dedham | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,443 |
25,237Highest |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±6.8 20% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
| Whately and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±7.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Whately and Dedham 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 MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
47.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Dedham 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 27% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$116,563±$15kLowest 12% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,400±$29kLowest 26% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,009±$225 14% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Dedham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,410 7% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,027Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.1%±19.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±9.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Whately and Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | Whately |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.