Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Torrington 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Torrington has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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 | Torrington | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960Lowest |
35,547Highest |
13,435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
42.9±1.8Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43±4 11% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Charlton 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% |
17.9%±1.6Lowest 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%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge and Torrington 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% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlton and Torrington 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. |
$70,856±$5kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$117,587±$8k 46% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Charlton 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. |
$215,500±$8kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$427,500±$19kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Charlton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,169±$43Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,381±$415Highest about the U.S. average |
| Charlton and Sturbridge 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. |
$5,042 62% above U.S. |
$4,617Lowest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Torrington and Sturbridge 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% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Charlton 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 | #132 of 149 in CT | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Torrington School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Torrington High School | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
11.9Highest |
9.7 |
| 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.