What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lakeville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).

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	Lakeville	Sturbridge
People
Population	11,944Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±1.9Lowest 9% above MA	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
	Sturbridge and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.2%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sturbridge and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Lakeville and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$133,984±$11kLowest 29% above MA	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
	Sturbridge and Lakeville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$565,900±$27kHighest about the MA average	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,884±$466Highest 7% above MA	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
	Lakeville and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,536Lowest 8% below MA	$6,520Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±18.2Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lakeville and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1982Lowest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 14% above MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	15.2%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sturbridge and Lakeville 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	#96 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Freetown-Lakeville	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Apponequet Regional High	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	7.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.