Compare towns
Surry vs Sturbridge vs Mason
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% 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 | Surry | Sturbridge | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052Lowest |
9,960Highest |
1,451 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1 15% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,125±$25kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $331,400±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$384,000±$21k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374 38% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Mason and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,384Lowest 105% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
38 min 43% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason 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 | — |
| School district | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Mason 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.