What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).

Avon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).

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	Sturbridge	Avon
People
Population	9,960Highest	4,774Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA	37.5±4Lowest 6% below MA
Kids under 18	20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.6%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Avon and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%	17.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	30.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.6%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Avon and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA	$130,625±$33kLowest 26% above MA
	Sturbridge and Avon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA	$509,600±$62kHighest 9% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA	$1,558±$265Highest 12% below MA
	Avon and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,520Lowest 9% above MA	$6,627Highest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	53.3%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Avon and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%	4.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 30% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%	10.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#89 of 282 in MA	#212 of 282 in MA
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	Avon
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Avon Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Lowest	9.4Highest
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.