What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairhaven has the shortest commute (29 min average).

Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).

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	Fairhaven	Sturbridge
People
Population	15,903Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA	47.2±2.6Lowest 18% above MA
	Fairhaven and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sturbridge and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Fairhaven and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sturbridge and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
	Fairhaven and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA	$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA
	Sturbridge and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA	$6,520Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.1%±14Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Fairhaven and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#126 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Fairhaven	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Fairhaven High	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	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.