What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).

Hadley has the shortest commute (20 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	Hadley
People
Population	9,960Highest	5,306Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA	45.8±7.1Lowest 15% above MA
	Sturbridge and Hadley 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%	16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Sturbridge and Hadley 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%	24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hadley 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%	61.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Hadley 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 32% above MA	$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA
	Sturbridge and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA	$511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA	$1,402±$132Highest 20% below MA
	Hadley and Sturbridge 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	$5,271Lowest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Highest MA: 51.8%	38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Sturbridge and Hadley 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%	6.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 30% above MA	20 minLowest 33% below MA
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hadley 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	#116 of 282 in MA
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	Hadley
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Hopkins Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Highest	7.3Lowest
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.