What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k 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	Chaplin
People
Population	9,960Highest	2,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.	43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Sturbridge and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sturbridge and Chaplin 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%	20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Chaplin 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%	25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chaplin 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.	$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.	$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S.	$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S.
	Chaplin and Sturbridge 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.	$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sturbridge and Chaplin 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%	5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.	32 minLowest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±10Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sturbridge and Chaplin 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	—
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Highest	7.5Lowest
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.