What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k 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	Readfield
People
Population	9,960Highest	2,651Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S.	48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S.
	Readfield and Sturbridge 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%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sturbridge and Readfield 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%	22.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Readfield 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%	48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sturbridge and Readfield 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.	$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.	$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S.	$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Sturbridge and Readfield 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.	$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sturbridge and Readfield 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%	5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.	30 minLowest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Readfield 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	#20 of 133 in ME
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	RSU 38
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Maranacook Community High Sch
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Lowest	11.5Highest
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.