What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sterling has the most expensive homes ($499k 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	Sterling	Sturbridge
People
Population	8,183Lowest	9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA	47.2±2.6Lowest 18% above MA
	Sterling and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Sturbridge and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sterling and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Sterling and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$129,063±$27kLowest 24% above MA	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
	Sturbridge and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
	Sterling and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,757Highest 13% above MA	$6,520Lowest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Sterling and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3% MA: 62.5%	86.3% MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 16 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	18.3%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sturbridge and Sterling 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	#135 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	None in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.7
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.