What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k 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	Ryegate
People
Population	9,960Highest	1,059Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.	41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ryegate and Sturbridge 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%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ryegate 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%	29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sturbridge and Ryegate 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.	$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.	$219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S.	$908±$236Lowest 36% below U.S.
	Sturbridge and Ryegate 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.	$3,472Lowest 11% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	55.9%±29.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ryegate 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%	14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#89 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	—
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7	—
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.