What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middletown has the most renters (47.1% rent).

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	Middletown	Sturbridge
People
Population	47,958Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.1±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sturbridge and Middletown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15.5%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,438±$6kLowest about the U.S. average	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,300±$11kLowest 11% below U.S.	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,446±$45Highest about the U.S. average	$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Middletown and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,412Lowest 106% above U.S.	$6,520Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Middletown and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 12% below U.S.	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	14.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sturbridge and Middletown 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	#121 of 149 in CT	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Middletown High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Highest	7.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.