Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Marion vs Sturbridge
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 kids (20.7% under 18).
Marion has the most expensive homes ($654k median).
Sturbridge has the shortest commute (32 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 | Marion | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
5,310 |
2,443Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Lowest 18% above MA |
53.8±4Highest 35% above MA |
47.8±6.8 20% above MA |
| Marion and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
27.3%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±7.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marion 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% MA: 47.3% |
46.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.9%±3.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Marion 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 |
$143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA |
$131,568±$34kLowest 27% above MA |
| Marion and Sturbridge 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 |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
$418,400±$29kLowest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,176±$516Lowest 33% below MA |
$2,009±$225Highest 14% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$5,766Lowest 4% below MA |
$6,410 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.1%±19.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marion 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% |
9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
14%±9.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marion 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 | #141 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Marion | — |
| 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 |
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.