Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Webster vs Sturbridge
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 most people working from home (19.8%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Sturbridge has the most renters (16.7% rent).
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 | Webster | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
2,227Lowest |
2,443 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
47.8±6.8Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Sturbridge 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% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge and Webster 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% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge 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. |
$107,171±$14kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$131,568±$34k 63% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$418,400±$29k 26% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622 about the U.S. average |
$2,009±$225Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Webster 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. |
$6,021Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,410 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.1%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster 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% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Webster 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Merrimack Valley School District | — |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | 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.