What stands out worked out from the figures below

Randolph has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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	Randolph	Sturbridge
People
Population	4,843Lowest	9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.4±7.4Lowest 4% above U.S.	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.
	Sturbridge and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.3%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sturbridge and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Randolph and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below U.S.	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$278,700±$38kLowest 16% below U.S.	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,172±$173Lowest 17% below U.S.	$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S.
	Sturbridge and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,698Lowest 51% above U.S.	$6,520Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.1%±17.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Randolph and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	12.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sturbridge and Randolph 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	#55 of 70 in VT	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Randolph Union High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.4Highest	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.