What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sturbridge has the most kids (20.7% under 18).

Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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	Thompson
People
Population	9,960Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson 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%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sturbridge and Thompson 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.	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Sturbridge and Thompson 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.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson 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%	5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sturbridge and Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	Thompson School District
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Lowest	7.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.