What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).

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	Gardner
People
Population	9,960Lowest	21,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA	43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA
	Sturbridge and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4%	18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Sturbridge and Gardner 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%	19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge and Gardner 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%	23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA	$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA	$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA
	Sturbridge and Gardner 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	$4,150Lowest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Gardner 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 MA: 10%	13.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 30% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Sturbridge and Gardner 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	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	Gardner
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Lowest	13.5Highest
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.