What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).

Windham has the shortest commute (26 min average).

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	19,188Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.	41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	19.2%±2.7Lowest 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%	15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sturbridge and Windham 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%	44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sturbridge and Windham 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.	$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S.
	Sturbridge and Windham 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.	$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S.
	Sturbridge and Windham 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.	$1,232±$332Highest 13% below U.S.
	Windham 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.	$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sturbridge and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sturbridge and Windham 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	#95 of 133 in ME
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	RSU 14
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Lowest	12.1Highest
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.