Compare towns

Sturbridge vs Westfield vs Sturbridge

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k median).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.8).

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.

MeasureSturbridgeWestfieldSturbridge
People
Population
9,960
40,378Highest
2,443Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-0.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+5.9%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
47.2±2.6
18% above MA
39.9±1.8Lowest
about the MA average
47.8±6.8Highest
20% above MA
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%±3Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.1%±2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
18.7%±4.9
MA: 19.4%
Sturbridge and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±3Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.7%±1.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
19.1%±7.8
MA: 17.9%
Sturbridge 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%
MA: 47.3%
33.2%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
55.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
10%±0.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.9%±3.8
MA: 7.9%
Westfield 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
32% above MA
$87,753±$6kLowest
16% below MA
$131,568±$34k
27% above MA
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
24% below MA
$325,100±$11kLowest
42% below MA
$418,400±$29k
26% below MA
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±$398
32% below MA
$1,117±$60Lowest
37% below MA
$2,009±$225Highest
14% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,520Highest
9% above MA
$4,746Lowest
21% below MA
$6,410
7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42%±17.7
MA: 51.8%
46.5%±5.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
29.1%±19.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Westfield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.7%
MA: 10%
10.7%Highest
MA: 10%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
68.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
83.3%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
18 yrs newer than MA
1964
same as MA
1958Lowest
6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
30% above MA
27 minLowest
9% below MA
32 min
9% above MA
Work from home
19.8%±4.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
8.6%±2.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
14%±9.4
MA: 18.6%
Sturbridge 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 #197 of 282 in MA #89 of 282 in MA
School district Sturbridge · Tantasqua Westfield —
High school in town Tantasqua Regional Sr High Westfield High —
Students per teacherat that high school
7.7Lowest
11.9Highest
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MA 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.