Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Bethlehem vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Bethlehem has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Sturbridge has the oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
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 | Bethlehem | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
3,423 |
2,443Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S. |
51.5±8.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
47.8±6.8 23% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$108,929±$16kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$131,568±$34k 63% above U.S. |
| 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 28% above U.S. |
$410,900±$36kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$418,400±$29k 26% above U.S. |
| 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±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,127±$124Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,009±$225Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$5,932Lowest 90% above U.S. |
$6,410 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.7%±38.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.1%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±9.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #82 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Regional School District 14 | — |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.