Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Needham vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Needham | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960 |
32,459Highest |
3,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,092Lowest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Needham | Brookfield |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
11.9Highest |
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| 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.