What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).

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	Dalton	Sturbridge
People
Population	6,256Lowest	9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA	47.2±2.6Lowest 18% above MA
	Dalton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sturbridge and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Dalton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sturbridge and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA	$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA	$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA
	Sturbridge and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,276Lowest 29% below MA	$6,520Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sturbridge and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 24% below MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sturbridge and Dalton 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	#192 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Central Berkshire	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Wahconah Regional High	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	7.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.