What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ellington has the shortest commute (31 min average).

Sturbridge has the most homeowners (86.3%).

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	Ellington	Sturbridge
People
Population	16,455Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+6.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±2.4Lowest 5% above U.S.	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.
Kids under 18	24%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ellington and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sturbridge and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ellington and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$129,913±$17kLowest 61% above U.S.	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.
	Sturbridge and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$366,900±$17kLowest 10% above U.S.	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,737±$212Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Ellington and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,751Highest 116% above U.S.	$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ellington and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1982 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	18.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sturbridge and Ellington 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	#46 of 149 in CT	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Ellington School District	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Ellington High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Highest	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.