What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rockland has the youngest population (median age 40.7).

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	Rockland	Sturbridge
People
Population	17,701Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.7±3.3Lowest about the MA average	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
Kids under 18	20.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sturbridge and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sturbridge and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,405±$12kLowest 8% above MA	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
	Sturbridge and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$472,900±$21kHighest 16% below MA	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,610±$255Highest 9% below MA	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
	Rockland and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,487Lowest 8% above MA	$6,520Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±10.4Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Rockland and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.5%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 14% above MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	14.7%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sturbridge and Rockland 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	#175 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Rockland	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Rockland Senior High	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	7.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.