What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).

Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k 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	Ellsworth
People
Population	9,960Highest	8,657Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.	43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Sturbridge and Ellsworth 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%	18.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sturbridge and Ellsworth 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%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ellsworth 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%	39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ellsworth 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.	$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.	$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S.	$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Sturbridge and Ellsworth 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.	$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ellsworth 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%	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#89 of 282 in MA	#63 of 133 in ME
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	Ellsworth Public Schools
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Ellsworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Lowest	12.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	5 photos →

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.