Compare towns

Sturbridge vs Washington vs Brooklyn

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 highest household income ($137k).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Brooklyn has the most affordable homes ($315k 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.

MeasureSturbridgeWashingtonBrooklyn
People
Population
9,960Highest
3,676Lowest
8,517
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
Median age
47.2±2.6
21% above U.S.
49.9±5.5Highest
28% above U.S.
45.6±2.5Lowest
17% above U.S.
Washington 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
U.S.: 22%
19%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
Sturbridge and Brooklyn 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%
26.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Washington 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%
53.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Washington and Brooklyn 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.
$101,549±$16k
26% above U.S.
$96,207±$15kLowest
19% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$425,800±$18k
28% above U.S.
$660,200±$130kHighest
98% above U.S.
$315,200±$28kLowest
5% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,193±$398
16% below U.S.
$1,204±$264Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,125±$98Lowest
20% below U.S.
Washington 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.
$4,709
51% above U.S.
$4,538Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
26.1%±24Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.5%±19.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Sturbridge and Brooklyn 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%
9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
26 minLowest
3% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
19.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
20.1%±9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Washington 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 #17 of 149 in CT #113 of 149 in CT
School district Sturbridge · Tantasqua Regional School District 12 Brooklyn School District
High school in town Tantasqua Regional Sr High Shepaug Valley School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
7.7Lowest
9.1Highest
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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.