Sturbridge offers nature, history and commuter convenience
Sturbridge is a town in south-central Massachusetts between Worcester and Springfield. The landscape is made up of woods, ponds and brooks, with some subdivisions and commercial areas branching off major regional highways. “It’s centrally located along Interstate 84 and Route 20 with easy access to Boston, about one hour away,” says Lisa Caron, the owner of Lisa Caron Real Estate and broker who sells in Sturbridge. “People might relocate here and commute to Boston because prices are lower than Boston.” The median single-family home price in Sturbridge is about $520,000 and about $1.2 million in Boston. “Taxes are high, but for people coming from Boston, it’s nothing,” Caron says. The overall CAP Index Crime Score is 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4. Among tourists and history enthusiasts, Sturbridge is known for its historic village, which provides an immersive experience into life in New England in the 1830s.
Walking the grounds of Old Sturbridge Village
Old Sturbridge Village is a living history museum that takes visitors back in time. It’s New England’s biggest outdoor museum and it’s free for all town residents. History buffs can watch a blacksmith shape wrought iron over the flames and ask historic reenactors questions about life in 19th-century New England. There are over 200 acres to explore and over 40 restored buildings of the time period. Visitors can have a drink at the tavern, stroll the gardens and see sheep grazing in the pasture.
Variety of home prices and styles in Sturbridge
If there is a theme to the town’s residential landscape, it is variety. Homes sit along rural, tree-lined roads and in subdivisions. “There’s a mixture of new construction, high-end properties, sections with affordable housing, condos, manufactured homes and rentals; it’s very much a mixture,” Caron says. Single-family homes here include ranch-style, Colonial Revival, New Traditional and bilevel. Prices range widely from about $240,000 to $1.1 million, depending on factors like square footage and lot size. Homes at low, mid-range and top prices may have waterfront views and access.
Students can attend Tantasqua Regional School District
Tantasqua Regional School District serves the area and earns an A-minus from Niche. Students may attend Burgess Elementary followed by Tantasqua Regional Junior High, which are both rated B-plus. About 86% of students at the elementary school participate in an arts course, which is on par for the district and above average for the state. Tantasqua Regional High gets an A.
Sturbridge’s public parks and tree-lined trails
Sturbridge has a variety of parks and over 30 miles of woodland trails to explore. Hikers can trek to The Tantiusques, an old graphite mine used by the Nipmuc tribe and later by early American colonists. Wells State Park’s 1,400 acres include 12 miles of multi-use trails and Walker Pond, where people can go swimming, fishing and canoeing. Entrance to the park costs $5 for Massachusetts residents. At Westville Recreation Area, locals can swim in the lake, walk the gravel loop and use the charcoal grills. In the winter, families can go ice skating and sledding. Hemlock Ridge Golf Course is a family-owned, nine-hole course offering league play. It is public with memberships available.
Where to eat, shop and find local goods in Sturbridge
Restaurants and retailers can be found along U.S. Route 20 and state Route 131, like B.T.’s Smokehouse, a laid-back, popular barbecue spot. Teddy G’s is a neighborhood pub serving burgers and beer. On Sundays from June through October, Sturbridge Farmers Market sells locally grown food. The Sturbridge Flea Market sells a variety of Amish furniture, art and antiques year-round. Small businesses in Sturbridge specialize in offerings like leather goods, picture frames and imported Italian food. Shoppers can get groceries and other essentials at Shaw’s and Walmart.
Highways connect Sturbridge to nearby cities and states
With a land area spanning about 35 square miles, Sturbridge is a large, car-reliant area without public transportation. However, major highways keep the town regionally well-connected. Interstate 84 runs south into Connecticut, while Interstate 90 and Route 20 stretch east-west across Massachusetts. The nearest hospital, UMass Memorial Health Harrington Hospital, is about 3 miles away in Southbridge. The nearest airport is Worcester Regional Airport, about 20 miles northeast.
