What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).

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	Sunapee
People
Population	9,960Highest	3,416Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S.	56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sturbridge and Sunapee 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.	$101,393±$20kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Sturbridge and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.	$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S.
	Sturbridge and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S.	$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S.
	Sunapee and Sturbridge 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.	$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sturbridge and Sunapee 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%	12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.	33 minLowest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#89 of 282 in MA	#14 of 120 in NH
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	Sunapee School District
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Sunapee Sr. High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Lowest	11.9Highest
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.