What stands out worked out from the figures below

Abington has the most expensive homes ($540k median).

Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Abington	Sturbridge
People
Population	17,053Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
Kids under 18	22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Abington and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Abington and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,400±$12kLowest 21% above MA	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
	Sturbridge and Abington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$539,600±$34kHighest 4% below MA	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,724±$250Highest about the MA average	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
	Abington and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,045Highest 18% above MA	$6,520Lowest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.7%±11Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Abington and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 14% above MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	15.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sturbridge and Abington 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	#143 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Abington	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Abington High	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	7.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.