Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Hanson vs Windsor Locks 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 the most people working from home (19.8%).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
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 | Hanson | Windsor Locks | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
10,660 |
12,579Highest |
3,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson 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% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Windsor Locks 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. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$81,250±$37k about the U.S. average |
| Sturbridge and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$341,900±$23k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Hanson and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,092 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Windsor Locks 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Windsor Locks 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Whitman-Hanson | Windsor Locks School District | Brookfield |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Whitman Hanson Regional | Windsor Locks High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
14.7Highest |
8.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.