Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Sturbridge vs Wareham 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).
Sturbridge has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Whately has the shortest commute (23 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 | Sturbridge | Sturbridge | Wareham | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,443 |
9,960 |
23,302Highest |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±6.8 20% above MA |
47.2±2.6Lowest 18% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
| Wareham and Whately are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge and Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham and Whately 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% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,568±$34k 27% above MA |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$116,563±$15k 12% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Sturbridge 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 |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$431,500±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
| Whately and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,009±$225Highest 14% above MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,410 7% above MA |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$5,027 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.1%±19.9 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
6.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±9.4 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Whately 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Wareham | Whately |
| High school in town | — | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Wareham Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
8.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.