Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Hingham 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 the most homeowners (86.3%).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k 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 | Hingham | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960Lowest |
24,283Highest |
13,435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
43±4Lowest 8% above MA |
| Hingham and Sturbridge 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% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Charlton and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Charlton 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±$15k 32% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$117,587±$8kLowest 13% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$427,500±$19k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,381±$415 22% below MA |
| 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%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
4.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1976Lowest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Hingham | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Hingham High | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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.