What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

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	Epping
People
Population	9,960Highest	7,430Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.	45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Sturbridge and Epping 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%	18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sturbridge and Epping 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%	22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Epping 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%	37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Epping 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.	$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S.	$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S.
	Epping 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 16% below U.S.	$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S.
	Epping and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S.	$6,936Highest 122% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Epping 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%	4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3% U.S.: 65.2%	86.3% U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.	32 minLowest 22% above U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Epping and Sturbridge 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	#77 of 120 in NH
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	Epping School District
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Epping 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.