What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).

Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).

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	Charlton	Sturbridge
People
Population	13,435Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43±4Lowest 8% above MA	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
	Sturbridge and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Charlton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Charlton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,587±$8kLowest 13% above MA	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
	Sturbridge and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,500±$19kHighest 24% below MA	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
	Charlton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
	Charlton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,617Lowest 23% below MA	$6,520Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sturbridge and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.5%Lowest MA: 10%	3.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA	1982Lowest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 13% above MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sturbridge and Charlton 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	#133 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Highest	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.