What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has the most affordable homes ($242k 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	Norwich	Sturbridge
People
Population	39,973Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.5±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Norwich and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sturbridge and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Norwich and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,024±$5kLowest 19% below U.S.	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$242,300±$11kLowest 27% below U.S.	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,253±$68Highest 11% below U.S.	$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Norwich and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,703Lowest 51% above U.S.	$6,520Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.2%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Norwich and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	7.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#133 of 149 in CT	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Norwich School District	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Norwich Free Academy	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	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.