What stands out worked out from the figures below

Natick has the most expensive homes ($821k median).

Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).

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	Natick	Sturbridge
People
Population	36,873Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.3±1.4Lowest 8% above MA	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
	Sturbridge and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Natick and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Natick and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Natick and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$138,538±$11kHighest 33% above MA	$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA
	Natick and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,914Highest 49% above MA	$6,520Lowest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sturbridge and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	25.1%±1.9Highest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Natick 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	#48 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Natick	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Natick High	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.6Highest	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.