Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Ludlow 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%).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
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 | Ludlow | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960Lowest |
20,904Highest |
13,435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
43±4Lowest 8% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Charlton and Sturbridge 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% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow 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 MA: 47.3% |
27%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Charlton and Ludlow 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 32% above MA |
$84,838±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$117,587±$8k 13% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$335,300±$10kLowest 40% below MA |
$427,500±$19kHighest 24% below MA |
| Charlton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA |
| Charlton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$4,918 18% below MA |
$4,617Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ludlow 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% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge and Ludlow 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 | #154 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Ludlow | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Ludlow Senior High | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
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.