Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Dover vs Charlton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Charlton has the shortest commute (33 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.
| Measure | Sturbridge | Dover | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960 |
5,930Lowest |
13,435Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
43±4Lowest 8% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.7%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Charlton 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge and Charlton 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% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$117,587±$8kLowest 13% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$427,500±$19k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,381±$415 22% below MA |
| Dover and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,617Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.3%±9.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Sturbridge and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
9.8Highest |
9.7 |
| 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.