Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Suffield vs Lancaster vs Charlton
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 oldest population (median age 47.2).
Suffield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
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 | Suffield | Lancaster | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
15,702Highest |
8,606Lowest |
13,435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
43±4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlton 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% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlton 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. |
$119,472±$13k 48% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$117,587±$8kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$427,500±$19k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,381±$415 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,456 107% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$4,617Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #145 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Suffield School District | Nashoba | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Suffield High School | None in town | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
10.9Highest |
— | 9.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.