Compare towns

Sturbridge vs Washington vs Windsor Locks

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).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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.

MeasureSturbridgeWashingtonWindsor Locks
People
Population
9,960
3,676Lowest
12,579Highest
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.
41.4±2.6Lowest
6% 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%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Sturbridge and Washington 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%
18.2%±2.7Lowest
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%
28.6%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%
5.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Washington and Windsor Locks 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.
$81,205±$13kLowest
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$425,800±$18k
28% above U.S.
$660,200±$130kHighest
98% above U.S.
$258,800±$14kLowest
22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,193±$398Lowest
16% below U.S.
$1,204±$264
15% below U.S.
$1,394±$187Highest
about the U.S. average
Windsor Locks and Washington 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.
$3,688Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
26.1%±24Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.2%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windsor Locks 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%
9%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
26 min
3% below U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
19.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
20.1%±9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.7%±3.7Lowest
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 #109 of 149 in CT
School district Sturbridge · Tantasqua Regional School District 12 Windsor Locks School District
High school in town Tantasqua Regional Sr High Shepaug Valley School Windsor Locks High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.7Lowest
9.1Highest
8.9
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.