Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Windsor Locks vs Southbridge Town
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).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Southbridge Town has the most renters (57.3% 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 | Windsor Locks | Southbridge Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960Lowest |
12,579 |
17,928Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
40.9±2.4Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Southbridge Town 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge and Windsor Locks 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% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Southbridge Town 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. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$66,287±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$294,800±$18k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,256±$79 11% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Southbridge Town 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. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.8%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Southbridge Town 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% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
42.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge and Windsor Locks 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 149 in CT | #282 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | — | Southbridge |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | — | Southbridge High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
— | 9.8Highest |
| 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.