Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Wayne 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k 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.
| Measure | Sturbridge | Wayne | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
1,101Lowest |
3,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
52.4±2.1 35% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Brookfield 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% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Brookfield 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% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Brookfield 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. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$81,250±$37kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$341,900±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,014±$161 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. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$5,092 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne 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 | — | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | RSU 38 | 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.