What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k median).

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	North Reading	Sturbridge
People
Population	15,765Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
	Sturbridge and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	North Reading and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sturbridge and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA	$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA
	North Reading and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,693Highest 62% above MA	$6,520Lowest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%	3.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 15% above MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	North Reading 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	#33 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	North Reading	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	North Reading High	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Highest	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.