What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).

Deep River has the shortest commute (24 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	Deep River
People
Population	9,960Highest	4,458Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.	46.2±5.6Lowest 19% above U.S.
	Sturbridge and Deep River 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%	16.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sturbridge and Deep River 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%	22.1%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Deep River 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%	44.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sturbridge and Deep River 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.	$90,253±$19kLowest 12% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.	$362,200±$26kLowest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S.	$1,221±$185Highest 14% below U.S.
	Deep River 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.	$6,092Lowest 95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	58.2%±22.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Deep River 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%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sturbridge and Deep River 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	#70 of 149 in CT
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	Deep River School District · Regional School District 04
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Valley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Lowest	9.3Highest
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.