What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).

Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).

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	Douglas	Sturbridge
People
Population	9,207Lowest	9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
	Sturbridge and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Douglas and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Douglas and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA	$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA
	Douglas and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
	Douglas and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
	Douglas and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,338Lowest 6% above MA	$6,520Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sturbridge and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA	1982Lowest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 16% above MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Douglas and Sturbridge 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	#177 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Douglas	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Douglas High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.2Lowest	7.7Highest
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.