What stands out worked out from the figures below

Griswold has the most affordable homes ($276k median).

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	Griswold	Sturbridge
People
Population	11,530Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+6.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±3.9Highest 24% above U.S.	47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S.
	Griswold and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sturbridge and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sturbridge and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,719±$11kLowest about the U.S. average	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$275,900±$42kLowest 17% below U.S.	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,177±$65Lowest 17% below U.S.	$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S.
	Sturbridge and Griswold are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,628Lowest 48% above U.S.	$6,520Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±15.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Griswold and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#118 of 149 in CT	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Griswold School District	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Griswold High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	7.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.