Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Worcester vs Charlton
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%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960Lowest |
207,055Highest |
13,435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
43±4 8% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Charlton 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge and Charlton 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 MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$117,587±$8k 13% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$427,500±$19kHighest 24% below MA |
| Charlton 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 32% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,381±$415 22% below MA |
| Worcester and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$4,617Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge and Charlton 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | South High Community | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
14.6Highest |
9.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.