What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k 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	Washington
People
Population	9,960Highest	3,676Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S.	49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S.
	Washington and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	19%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sturbridge and Washington 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%	26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Washington 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Washington 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±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.	$101,549±$16kLowest 26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S.	$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S.	$1,204±$264Highest 15% below U.S.
	Washington 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.	$4,709Lowest 51% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sturbridge and Washington 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%	9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Washington 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	#17 of 149 in CT
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	Regional School District 12
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Shepaug Valley School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Lowest	9.1Highest
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.