What stands out worked out from the figures below

Naples has the most people working from home (26.7%).

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	Naples	Sturbridge
People
Population	3,985Lowest	9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.8±6.8Highest 28% above U.S.	47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S.
	Naples and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sturbridge and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Naples and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sturbridge and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,188±$13kLowest 3% below U.S.	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,100±$48kLowest about the U.S. average	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,941±$625Highest 37% above U.S.	$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Naples and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,784Lowest 11% below U.S.	$6,520Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.9%±40.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Naples and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 45% above U.S.	38 minLowest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	26.7%±11.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Naples 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	#118 of 133 in ME	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 61/MSAD 61	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Lake Region High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Highest	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.