What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brockton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.6%).

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	Brockton	Sturbridge
People
Population	105,386Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	36.7±0.8Lowest 8% below MA	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
Kids under 18	25.3%±1Highest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	14.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Brockton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,115±$3kLowest 23% below MA	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$437,500±$8kHighest 22% below MA	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
	Brockton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,641±$52Highest 7% below MA	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
	Brockton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,820Lowest 20% below MA	$6,520Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.5%±4.2Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Brockton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.5%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 8% above MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	6.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#279 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Brockton	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Brockton High	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	17.0Highest	7.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.