Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Hampton vs Brookfield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k median).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k median).
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 | Hampton | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960 |
10,101Highest |
3,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7 32% above U.S. |
52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Hampton 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% |
14.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield 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. |
$97,163±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$81,250±$37kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$341,900±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$5,092Lowest 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookfield and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | — | Brookfield |
| 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.