What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby has the most affordable homes ($257k median).

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	Derby	Sturbridge
People
Population	12,487Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±3.1Lowest 19% above U.S.	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.
	Sturbridge and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Derby and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derby and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,500±$11kLowest about the U.S. average	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,700±$21kLowest 23% below U.S.	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,452±$95Highest about the U.S. average	$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Derby and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,510Lowest 77% above U.S.	$6,520Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.9%±12.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Derby and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sturbridge and Derby 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	#138 of 149 in CT	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Derby School District	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Derby High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Highest	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.