Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Ashburnham vs Sturbridge
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 people working from home (19.8%).
Ashburnham has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
Sturbridge has the most renters (16.7% 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 | Ashburnham | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
6,415 |
2,443Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
47.8±6.8Highest 20% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±7.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3% MA: 47.3% |
44%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.9%±3.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$118,809±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$131,568±$34k 27% 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 | $425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$418,400±$29k 26% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,807±$1k about the MA average |
$2,009±$225Highest 14% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$6,046Lowest about the MA average |
$6,410 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.1%±19.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
14%±9.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge and Ashburnham 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 | #178 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Ashburnham-Westminster | — |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.