What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).

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	Brewer
People
Population	9,960Highest	9,652Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.	40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Sturbridge and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brewer and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brewer 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brewer 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 69% above U.S.	$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.	$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S.	$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S.
	Sturbridge and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,520Highest 109% above U.S.	$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brewer 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 U.S.: 12.5%	12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.	17 minLowest 36% below U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#89 of 282 in MA	#32 of 133 in ME
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	Brewer Public Schools
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Brewer High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Lowest	14.0Highest
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.