What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cumberland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).

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	Cumberland	Sturbridge
People
Population	36,820Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.5±1.2Lowest 12% above U.S.	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.
	Sturbridge and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Cumberland and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sturbridge and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sturbridge and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,522±$8kLowest 46% above U.S.	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.
	Sturbridge and Cumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$431,000±$15kHighest 30% above U.S.	$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S.
	Cumberland and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,379±$109Highest about the U.S. average	$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Cumberland and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,870Lowest 56% above U.S.	$6,520Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.9%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Cumberland and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	14.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sturbridge and Cumberland 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	#18 of 38 in RI	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Blackstone Valley Prep A RI Mayoral Academy · Cumberland	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Cumberland High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	7.7Lowest
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.