What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the shortest commute (26 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	Hampden	Sturbridge
People
Population	4,946Lowest	9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	50.9±3.3Highest 27% above MA	47.2±2.6Lowest 18% above MA
	Hampden and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	26.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hampden and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,536±$16kLowest about the MA average	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$358,200±$16kLowest 36% below MA	$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,132±$107Lowest 36% below MA	$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA
	Sturbridge and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,181Lowest 3% above MA	$6,520Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.9%±42.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sturbridge and Hampden 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	94.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 11% below MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	9.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#199 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Hampden-Wilbraham	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	None in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.7
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.