What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).

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	Lunenburg	Sturbridge
People
Population	11,902Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±2.1Lowest 8% above MA	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
	Sturbridge and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Lunenburg and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sturbridge and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,828±$11kLowest 9% above MA	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
	Sturbridge and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,900±$24kHighest 17% below MA	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
	Lunenburg and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
	Lunenburg and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,401Lowest 7% above MA	$6,520Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±13.5Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lunenburg and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minLowest 24% above MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	15.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sturbridge and Lunenburg 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	#87 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Lunenburg	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Lunenburg High	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Highest	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.