What stands out worked out from the figures below

Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k median).

Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).

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	Groton	Sturbridge
People
Population	11,390Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
Kids under 18	28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Groton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Groton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA	$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$743,400±$46kHighest 32% above MA	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,458±$335Highest 17% below MA	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
	Groton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$6,520Lowest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.8%±17Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Groton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA	1982Lowest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 11% above MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	27.5%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Groton 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	#39 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Groton-Dunstable	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Groton Dunstable Regional	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.7Highest	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.