What stands out worked out from the figures below

Maynard has the most expensive homes ($527k median).

Sturbridge has the most kids (20.7% under 18).

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	Maynard	Sturbridge
People
Population	10,712Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
	Sturbridge and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sturbridge and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sturbridge and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
	Sturbridge and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,266Highest 38% above MA	$6,520Lowest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.9%±9.6Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Maynard and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 9% above MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Maynard 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	#166 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Maynard	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Maynard High	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Highest	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.