What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bolton has the shortest commute (25 min average).

Sturbridge has the most expensive homes ($426k median).

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	Bolton	Sturbridge
People
Population	4,853Lowest	9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+6.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±3.3Lowest 12% above U.S.	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.
	Sturbridge and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sturbridge and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sturbridge and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bolton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$126,364±$19kLowest 57% above U.S.	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.
	Sturbridge and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$367,600±$17kLowest 10% above U.S.	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,127±$55Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S.
	Sturbridge and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,091Highest 159% above U.S.	$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.8%±30.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sturbridge and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bolton and Sturbridge 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	#79 of 149 in CT	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Bolton School District	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Bolton High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.4Lowest	7.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.