What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).

Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).

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	Bow
People
Population	9,960Highest	8,335Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.	41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%	25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bow and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sturbridge and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bow 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±$15kLowest 69% above U.S.	$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S.	$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S.	$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S.
	Bow and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S.	$9,584Highest 207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sturbridge and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bow and Sturbridge 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	#89 of 282 in MA	#26 of 120 in NH
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	Bow School District
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Lowest	12.8Highest
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.