What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

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	Pelham	Sturbridge
People
Population	14,449Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S.	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Pelham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sturbridge and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pelham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$135,956±$19kLowest 68% above U.S.	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.
	Sturbridge and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S.	$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average	$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Pelham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,634Highest 177% above U.S.	$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pelham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7% U.S.: 12.5%	3.7% U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 12% above U.S.	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pelham 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 120 in NH	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Pelham School District	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Pelham High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Highest	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.