What stands out worked out from the figures below

Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 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	Smithfield	Sturbridge
People
Population	22,233Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S.	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sturbridge and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Smithfield 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S.	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S.	$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S.
	Smithfield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S.
	Sturbridge and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S.	$6,520Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Smithfield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sturbridge and Smithfield 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	#8 of 38 in RI	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Smithfield	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Smithfield High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Highest	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.