Compare towns

Sturbridge vs Sturbridge 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 renters (16.7% rent).
Sturbridge has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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.

MeasureSturbridgeSturbridgeWhately
People
Population
2,443
9,960Highest
1,499Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.5%
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
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%±4.9
MA: 19.4%
20.7%±3Highest
MA: 19.4%
16.4%±3.8Lowest
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%
24.5%±6.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
Whately 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
MA: 47.3%
49.3%
MA: 47.3%
47.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±3.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.6%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
2.5%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Sturbridge 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±$34k
27% above MA
$136,759±$15kHighest
32% above MA
$116,563±$15kLowest
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
$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
$977±$125Lowest
45% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,410
7% above MA
$6,520Highest
9% above MA
$5,027Lowest
16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.1%±19.9
MA: 51.8%
42%±17.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
26.7%±29Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Sturbridge 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%
5.4%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
86.3%
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
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
9% above MA
38 minHighest
30% above MA
23 minLowest
21% below MA
Work from home
14%±9.4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
19.8%±4.8
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 —
School district — Sturbridge · Tantasqua Whately
High school in town — Tantasqua Regional Sr High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.7
—
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.