Compare towns

Sturbridge vs Oakham 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 people working from home (19.8%).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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.

MeasureSturbridgeOakhamSturbridge
People
Population
9,960Highest
1,639Lowest
2,443
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-2.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+5.9%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
47.2±2.6Lowest
18% above MA
49±2.3Highest
23% above MA
47.8±6.8
20% above MA
Oakham 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%
18.2%±3.1Lowest
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%
21.4%±2.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
19.1%±7.8Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Oakham 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%
40.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
55.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.9%±3.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
Sturbridge 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±$15kHighest
32% above MA
$102,000±$20kLowest
about the MA average
$131,568±$34k
27% above MA
Sturbridge 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±$18kHighest
24% below MA
$420,100±$20k
25% below MA
$418,400±$29kLowest
26% below MA
Sturbridge and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,193±$398
32% below MA
$1,174±$81Lowest
33% below MA
$2,009±$225Highest
14% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,520Highest
9% above MA
$4,103Lowest
32% below MA
$6,410
7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42%±17.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
27.8%±69.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
29.1%±19.9
MA: 51.8%
Sturbridge 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%
4.4%Highest
MA: 10%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%
MA: 62.5%
91.6%Highest
MA: 62.5%
83.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
18 yrs newer than MA
1979
15 yrs newer than MA
1958Lowest
6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 min
30% above MA
39 minHighest
32% above MA
32 minLowest
9% above MA
Work from home
19.8%±4.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
9.6%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
14%±9.4
MA: 18.6%
Sturbridge 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 — #89 of 282 in MA
School district Sturbridge · Tantasqua Quabbin —
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.