What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k 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	Concord
People
Population	9,960Lowest	18,223Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±2.6Lowest 18% above MA	47.6±2Highest 19% above MA
	Concord 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%	23.6%±2.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Concord 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%	23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Concord 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%	79.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Concord 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	$195,350±$22kHighest 88% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA	$1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA	$2,631±$166Highest 49% above 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%	53.2%±10.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Concord and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7% MA: 10%	3.7% MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 30% above MA	32 minLowest 11% above MA
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#89 of 282 in MA	#10 of 282 in MA
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	Concord · Concord-Carlisle
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Concord Carlisle High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Lowest	11.4Highest
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.