What stands out worked out from the figures below

Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).

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	Epping	Sturbridge
People
Population	7,430Lowest	9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S.	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.
	Sturbridge and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sturbridge and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Epping and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Epping and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S.	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S.	$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S.
	Epping and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Epping and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,936Highest 122% above U.S.	$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Epping and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3% U.S.: 65.2%	86.3% U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 22% above U.S.	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Epping 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	#77 of 120 in NH	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Epping School District	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Epping High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3Highest	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.