What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).

Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k 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	Windham
People
Population	9,960Lowest	23,961Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.	33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below U.S.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sturbridge and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	15.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.	$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.	$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S.	$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Sturbridge and Windham 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.	$4,633Lowest 49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Windham 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%	20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#89 of 282 in MA	#143 of 149 in CT
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Lowest	9.8Highest
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.