Compare towns

Uxbridge vs Townsend vs Sturbridge

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Uxbridge has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).

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.

MeasureUxbridgeTownsendSturbridge
People
Population
14,473Highest
9,100Lowest
9,960
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.2%
MA: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.7±2.8
4% above MA
40.9±3.3Lowest
about the MA average
47.2±2.6Highest
18% above MA
Kids under 18
19.5%±3.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21%±3.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
20.7%±3
MA: 19.4%
Townsend and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.1%±2.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
19.8%±3Highest
MA: 17.9%
Sturbridge and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38%
MA: 47.3%
35.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
49.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.6%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
Townsend and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$124,725±$7k
20% above MA
$121,528±$23kLowest
17% above MA
$136,759±$15kHighest
32% above MA
Sturbridge and Uxbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$441,100±$25kHighest
22% below MA
$433,200±$22k
23% below MA
$425,800±$18kLowest
24% below MA
Uxbridge and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,555±$265Highest
12% below MA
$1,469±$313
17% below MA
$1,193±$398Lowest
32% below MA
Uxbridge and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,836Lowest
about the MA average
$6,031
about the MA average
$6,520Highest
9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.6%±5.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
50.6%±16.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
42%±17.7
MA: 51.8%
Townsend and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.9%Highest
MA: 10%
3.7%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
82%
MA: 62.5%
86.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
12 yrs newer than MA
1976Lowest
12 yrs newer than MA
1982Highest
18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minLowest
26% above MA
37 min
27% above MA
38 minHighest
30% above MA
Work from home
15.9%±3.8
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
19.8%±4.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
Sturbridge and Uxbridge 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 #183 of 282 in MA #136 of 282 in MA #89 of 282 in MA
School district Uxbridge North Middlesex Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town Uxbridge High North Middlesex Regional Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.6
13.1Highest
7.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.