What stands out worked out from the figures below

Kingston has the most expensive homes ($611k 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	Kingston	Sturbridge
People
Population	14,027Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.5±3.9Lowest 16% above MA	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
	Sturbridge and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sturbridge and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.8%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Kingston and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sturbridge and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$119,876±$13kLowest 15% above MA	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
	Sturbridge and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$610,600±$30kHighest 9% above MA	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,159±$244Lowest 34% below MA	$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA
	Sturbridge and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,650Highest 28% above MA	$6,520Lowest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.9%±13Lowest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sturbridge and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.1%Lowest MA: 10%	3.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982 18 yrs newer than MA	1982 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 20% above MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	19.5%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sturbridge and Kingston 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	#99 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Kingston · Silver Lake	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Silver Lake Regional High	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	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.