Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Wareham vs Southbridge Town
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering SturbridgeSturbridge
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($132k).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
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 | Wareham | Southbridge Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,443Lowest |
23,302Highest |
17,928 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±6.8 20% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
40.9±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Wareham 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% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.9%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham 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% |
27.1% MA: 47.3% |
19.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±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±$34kHighest 27% above MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$66,287±$8kLowest 36% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,400±$29k 26% below MA |
$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA |
$294,800±$18kLowest 48% below MA |
| Wareham 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 |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,256±$79Lowest 29% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,410Highest 7% above MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.1%±19.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±8.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Southbridge Town and Wareham 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% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
15.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 14%±9.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
4.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge and Wareham 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #282 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Wareham | Southbridge |
| High school in town | — | Wareham Senior High | Southbridge High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
9.8Highest |
| 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.