What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sturbridge has the most homeowners (86.3%).

Salem has the most renters (50.3% 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	Salem
People
Population	9,960Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge and Salem 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%	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,520Highest 9% above MA	$6,114Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salem 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%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 30% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Salem 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	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	Salem
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Lowest	9.8Highest
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.