Compare towns
West Wareham vs Sturbridge vs Cheshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Wareham has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
Cheshire has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | West Wareham | Sturbridge | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,257Lowest |
9,960Highest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.6±13Highest 44% above MA |
47.2±2.6Lowest 18% above MA |
53.7±4.5 34% above MA |
| West Wareham and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±7.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
| West Wareham and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
26.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±4.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cheshire and West Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,560±$15kLowest 44% below MA |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$69,803±$14k 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,800±$104kLowest 59% below MA |
$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA |
$268,200±$48k 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,765 20% below MA |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$3,005Lowest 50% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90.6%±37.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
21.2%±24Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| West Wareham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 23% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 17.7%±13.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
4.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge and West Wareham 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 | #274 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | — | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Hoosac Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
10.5Highest |
| 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.