The Town FilesSturbridge, Massachusetts
Town in Worcester County · population 9,867 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $425,800
- Household income
- $136,759
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 64 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 47.2
Sturbridge is a town of 9,867 people in Worcester County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $425,800, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks easier by car than 70% of Massachusetts towns.
How Sturbridge ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sturbridge is worth $425,800, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $136,759, which is more affordable than 97% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,193 a month. 86.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sturbridge | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $425,800 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,193 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $136,759 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 86.3% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.7% | — |
Who lives in Sturbridge
| People | Sturbridge | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.2 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 49.3% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.7% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.2% | — |
| Work from home | 19.8% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 37.8 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.8% | 93.9% |
Weather in Sturbridge
July highs average 80.5°F and January lows 16.1°F. About 48.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 63.5 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sturbridge since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 1, 2011 about 2.5 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 200 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 16, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 1, 2011.
Severe weather in Worcester County since 1996
Worcester County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4780: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Worcester County
Worcester County had 351,476 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,641 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Sturbridge itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Sturbridge
2 public schools with 1,250 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burgess Elementary | PK-6 | 902 | 12.5 |
| Old Sturbridge Academy Charter Public School (charter) | K-8 | 348 | 13.4 |
Towns near Sturbridge
- Fiskdale, MA1.8 mi · 2,797 people · home $409,300
- Southbridge Town, MA4.2 mi · 17,740 people · home $294,800
- Brookfield, MA5.4 mi · 3,439 people · home $341,900
- Holland, MA6.2 mi · 2,603 people · home $333,600
- Brimfield, MA6.2 mi · 3,694 people · home $389,100
- Charlton, MA6.5 mi · 13,315 people · home $427,500
- Dudley, MA8.6 mi · 11,921 people · home $392,600
- Warren, MA8.7 mi · 4,975 people · home $333,700
Sturbridge questions
Is Sturbridge, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sturbridge scores better for retirees than 26% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 49%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.2).
How much does a house cost in Sturbridge?
The median owner-occupied home in Sturbridge is valued at $425,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $136,759, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,193 a month.
What is the weather like in Sturbridge?
July highs average 80.5°F and January lows 16.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.6 inches of precipitation a year and 63.5 inches of snow.
Does Sturbridge get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sturbridge since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 1, 2011. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)