What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norton has the most expensive homes ($501k 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	Norton	Sturbridge
People
Population	19,240Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
Kids under 18	17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sturbridge and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,535±$11kLowest 20% above MA	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
	Sturbridge and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$501,400±$27kHighest 11% below MA	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
	Norton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,929Lowest about the MA average	$6,520Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.6%±8.9Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Norton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982 18 yrs newer than MA	1982 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 12% above MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sturbridge and Norton 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	#173 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Norton	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Norton High	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	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.