What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).

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	Charlton
People
Population	9,960Lowest	13,435Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA	43±4Lowest 8% above MA
	Sturbridge and Charlton 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%	24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Charlton 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%	18%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge and Charlton 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%	37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Charlton 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	$117,587±$8kLowest 13% above MA
	Sturbridge and Charlton 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	$427,500±$19kHighest 24% below MA
	Charlton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA	$1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA
	Charlton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,520Highest 9% above MA	$4,617Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Highest MA: 51.8%	41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Sturbridge and Charlton 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%	2.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	84.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 18 yrs newer than MA	1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 30% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%	13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Sturbridge and Charlton 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	#133 of 282 in MA
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Lowest	9.7Highest
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.