What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).

Boxford has the most expensive homes ($907k median).

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	Boxford
People
Population	9,960Highest	8,208Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±2.6Lowest 18% above MA	49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA
	Boxford and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.7%±5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Boxford and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.2%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Boxford and Sturbridge 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 MA: 47.3%	70.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Boxford 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 32% above MA	$200,871±$21kHighest 93% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA	$907,000±$46kHighest 61% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA	$776±$13Lowest 56% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,520Lowest 9% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	67.2%±60.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Boxford and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Highest MA: 10%	3.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 30% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Boxford 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	#34 of 282 in MA
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	Boxford · Masconomet
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Masconomet Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.