First-time buyer programs
MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Worcester County. We check them with you before you shop.
MassHousing home loans
Living in Sturbridge, Massachusetts
Sturbridge is a town in southern Worcester County at the junction of Interstate 90 (the Massachusetts Turnpike) and Interstate 84, about 16 miles southwest of Worcester. Settled in 1729 and incorporated in 1738, it took its name from Stourbridge, England. It is best known as the home of Old Sturbridge Village, an outdoor living history museum depicting 19th-century rural New England life.
Sturbridge at a glance
- $15.60Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $7,870Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 25-30 minDrive to Worcester
- WorcesterCounty
Sturbridge's villages and zip codes
Sturbridge center uses 01566; the Fiskdale section uses its own ZIP code, 01518.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Sturbridge center | 01566 | Along Main Street (Route 131) near the Town Common and Old Sturbridge Village. |
| Fiskdale | 01518 | A village section in the western part of town, along Route 20. |
Things to do in Sturbridge, MA
Start with Old Sturbridge Village and Wells State Park, then 1 more below.
Old Sturbridge Village
The largest outdoor living history museum in New England, depicting rural New England life in the 19th century with historic buildings, costumed interpreters and heritage-breed animals.
1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd, Sturbridge, MA 01566
Plan a visitWells State Park
A 1,400-acre state park with about 10 miles of trails, camping, and Walker Pond for swimming, fishing and canoeing.
Sturbridge, MA
Tantiusques
A Trustees of Reservations property that was the site of graphite mining by John Winthrop the Younger in the 1640s, now open space with trails.
Sturbridge, MA
A little history
Sturbridge was settled in 1729 by colonists from Medfield and incorporated as a town in 1738, taking its name from Stourbridge, England.
John Winthrop the Younger mined graphite, lead and iron in the 1640s at what is now the Tantiusques reservation, predating the town's settlement.
Old Sturbridge Village opened as a living history museum recreating rural New England life from the 1790s to the 1830s.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Sturbridge
Wells State Park and the Tantiusques reservation give Sturbridge trails, camping and a pond for swimming and paddling.
- Wells State ParkAbout 10 miles of trails, camping and Walker Pond.
- TantiusquesFormer graphite-mining land now open for hiking.
Walkability and getting around Sturbridge
Sturbridge center along Main Street has sidewalks near the Town Common and Old Sturbridge Village, but the town's commercial strips along Route 20 and its residential areas are built for driving.
Drive times
- Worcester, about 16 miles25-30 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
Sturbridge sits at the junction of Interstate 90 (the Massachusetts Turnpike) and Interstate 84, with U.S. Route 20 also passing through. There is no train station in town.
Sturbridge property taxes
Sturbridge's FY2026 residential tax rate is $15.60 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,560 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $7,870, on an average assessed value of $504,459.
Sturbridge's FY2026 tax rates
$15.60per $1,000, residential
- Residential$15.60 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$504,459
- Average single-family tax bill$7,870
- Motor vehicle excise (statewide)$25 per $1,000 of value
Source: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.
How the residential rate has changed
| Fiscal year | Residential rate |
|---|---|
| FY2022 | $19.15 |
| FY2023 | $18.07 |
| FY2024 | $16.49 |
| FY2025 | $15.93 |
| FY2026 | $15.60 |
Look up a Sturbridge property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Sturbridge
What we check on a Sturbridge purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate, foundations, smoke certificate.
Check the flood zone first
The Quinebaug River and its tributaries, along with Walker Pond and other ponds in town, put some low-lying parcels in Sturbridge within FEMA-mapped flood zones. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for SturbridgeSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Sturbridge Fire Department before the sale closes.
Ask about foundation testing
The Massachusetts Geological Survey at UMass Amherst lists Sturbridge among the towns most at risk from pyrrhotite, a mineral linked to crumbling concrete foundations, based on distance from the Connecticut quarry that supplied the concrete. On a home with a poured concrete foundation, ask whether it has been tested.
UMass pyrrhotite guideSmoke and CO certificate required before closing
Massachusetts sellers need a smoke and carbon-monoxide detector compliance certificate from the local Fire Department before a home can close. We build that inspection into the closing timeline.
All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. MassHousing limits and eligibility are set by MassHousing and change from time to time.
Thinking about buying in Sturbridge?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Sturbridge address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Sturbridge: utilities, trash and town hall
Who to call in Sturbridge.
- Registry of Motor VehiclesUpdate your address with the RMV within 30 days. Excise tax goes to the city or town where the car is garaged.Mass. RMV
Town Hall offices and contacts
Sturbridge Town Hall.
Sturbridge, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Sturbridge, MA?
Sturbridge's FY2026 residential tax rate is $15.60 per $1,000 of assessed value. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.
How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Sturbridge?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $6,240 a year at $15.60 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Sturbridge have a split tax rate?
No. Sturbridge uses a single rate of $15.60 per $1,000 for all property classes.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Sturbridge?
The average single-family tax bill in Sturbridge was $7,870 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $504,459.
What county is Sturbridge, MA in?
Sturbridge is in Worcester County.
What ZIP codes does Sturbridge use?
Sturbridge center uses 01566; the Fiskdale section uses 01518.
What is Old Sturbridge Village?
Old Sturbridge Village is an outdoor living history museum in town depicting rural New England life from the 1790s to the 1830s.
How far is Sturbridge from Worcester?
Sturbridge is about 16 miles from Worcester, roughly a 25-30 minute drive.
Is there a train station in Sturbridge?
No. Sturbridge has no train station; it sits at the junction of Interstate 90 and Interstate 84.
Which towns border Sturbridge?
Sturbridge borders Charlton, Southbridge, Brimfield, Holland, Brookfield and East Brookfield in Massachusetts, and Union and Woodstock, Connecticut.
Towns near Sturbridge
Neighbors of Sturbridge, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Sturbridge, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Old Sturbridge Village official website: osv.org
- Joshua Hyde Public Library: sturbridgelibrary.org
- Tantasqua Regional School District: tantasqua.org
- Center Meetinghouse, Old Sturbridge Village photo, Wikimedia Commons: commons.wikimedia.org
- Tax rates and average single-family value and tax bill: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.
- Motor vehicle excise: M.G.L. c. 60A, $25 per $1,000 of value statewide.
- Walkability: Walk Score®, provided live by Walk Score.
- Photo: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Checked September 25, 2026.