What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).

Walpole has the most expensive homes ($687k 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	Walpole
People
Population	9,960Lowest	26,388Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA	40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%	25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Walpole and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%	16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	67.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Walpole and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA	$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA	$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA	$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,520Lowest 9% above MA	$8,523Highest 42% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Highest MA: 51.8%	37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Sturbridge and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Highest MA: 10%	3.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 30% above MA	34 minLowest 15% above MA
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Walpole 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	#107 of 282 in MA
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Walpole High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Lowest	11.3Highest
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.