What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

Sturbridge has the most affordable 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	Brookline	Sturbridge
People
Population	5,736Lowest	9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.
Kids under 18	26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Brookline and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brookline and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S.	$136,759±$15kLowest 69% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S.	$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S.	$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Brookline and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sturbridge and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 26% above U.S.	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brookline 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	#23 of 120 in NH	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Brookline School District	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	None in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.7
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.