Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Brewer 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%).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Brewer | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
9,652 |
2,443Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
47.8±6.8Highest 23% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer 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% |
22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer 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% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer 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. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below 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. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below 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. |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$2,009±$225Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$6,410 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.1%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #32 of 133 in ME | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Brewer Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Brewer High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
14.0Highest |
— |
| 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.