What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).

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	Dighton	Sturbridge
People
Population	8,193Lowest	9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.7±2.9Lowest 7% above MA	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
	Sturbridge and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±4Highest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Dighton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sturbridge and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$136,646±$19kLowest 31% above MA	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
	Sturbridge and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$501,900±$47kHighest 11% below MA	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,405±$192Highest 20% below MA	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
	Dighton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,452Lowest 8% above MA	$6,520Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sturbridge and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%	3.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 6% above MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	11%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#85 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Bristol County Agricultural High	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	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.