What stands out worked out from the figures below

Glocester has the shortest commute (34 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	Glocester	Sturbridge
People
Population	10,221Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.8±4.3Highest 31% above U.S.	47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S.
	Glocester and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sturbridge and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Glocester and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sturbridge and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,508±$7kLowest 41% above U.S.	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,500±$28kLowest 19% above U.S.	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.
	Sturbridge and Glocester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,417±$627Highest about the U.S. average	$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Glocester and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,248Lowest 68% above U.S.	$6,520Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.5%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Glocester and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 30% above U.S.	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	13.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sturbridge and Glocester 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	#12 of 38 in RI	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Foster-Glocester · Glocester	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Ponaganset High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	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.