What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northfield has the shortest commute (31 min average).

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	Northfield	Sturbridge
People
Population	2,872Lowest	9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA	47.2±2.6Lowest 18% above MA
	Northfield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sturbridge and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Northfield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sturbridge and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,375±$10kLowest about the MA average	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA	$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA	$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA
	Sturbridge and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,594Lowest 23% below MA	$6,520Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±25.9Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Northfield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 8% above MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	16.5%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sturbridge and Northfield 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	#231 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Pioneer Valley	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Pioneer Valley Regional	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Highest	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.