What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).

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	Pepperell	Sturbridge
People
Population	1,971Lowest	9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±6.3Lowest 16% above MA	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
	Sturbridge and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±5.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sturbridge and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sturbridge and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,726±$17kLowest 26% below MA	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$457,300±$40kHighest 19% below MA	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
	Pepperell and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,139±$301Lowest 35% below MA	$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA
	Sturbridge and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,871Highest 15% above MA	$6,520Lowest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.6%±20.7Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Pepperell and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.9%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 18% above MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	13.5%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sturbridge and Pepperell 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	#153 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	—	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.7
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.