Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Sterling 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 the most people working from home (19.8%).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
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 | Sterling | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
3,629 |
3,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield 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 69% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$81,250±$37kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$341,900±$23k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
— | $1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Brookfield 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. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,092 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brookfield and Sturbridge 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% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Brookfield 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 | #119 of 149 in CT | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sterling School District | Brookfield |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7 |
— | — |
| 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.