What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k 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	Putnam	Sturbridge
People
Population	7,120Lowest	9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.2±5.1Lowest 6% above U.S.	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.
	Sturbridge and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sturbridge and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sturbridge and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sturbridge and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S.	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S.	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,147±$43Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S.
	Sturbridge and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S.	$6,520Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sturbridge and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#128 of 149 in CT	#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

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.