What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 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	Smithfield
People
Population	9,960Lowest	22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.	41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sturbridge and Smithfield 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%	21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Smithfield 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%	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.	$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S.	$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S.
	Smithfield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S.	$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Sturbridge and Smithfield 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.	$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Smithfield 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%	6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sturbridge and Smithfield 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	#8 of 38 in RI
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	Smithfield
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Lowest	11.8Highest
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.