What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).

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	Dudley	Sturbridge
People
Population	11,929Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
Kids under 18	20.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sturbridge and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA	$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA
	Sturbridge and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
	Dudley and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,691Lowest 38% below MA	$6,520Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Dudley and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 6% below MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#142 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Shepherd Hill Regional High	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	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.