Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Smithfield vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Smithfield | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960 |
22,233Highest |
3,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Smithfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$81,250±$37kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$341,900±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Smithfield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241 28% below U.S. |
$1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$5,207 67% above U.S. |
$5,092Lowest 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Smithfield 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Smithfield | Brookfield |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Smithfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
11.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.