Compare towns
Washington vs Sturbridge vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k median).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Washington | Sturbridge | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,676Lowest |
9,960Highest |
3,825 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±5.5 28% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S. |
54±3.4Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Chester and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,549±$16kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$109,191±$18k 35% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$442,200±$25k 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$264 15% below U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,549±$247Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Chester and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,709Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$6,364 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chester and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington 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 | #17 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA | #8 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Regional School District 12 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Chester School District |
| High school in town | Shepaug Valley School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Highest |
7.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.