What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).

Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 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	Wolfeboro
People
Population	9,960Highest	6,571Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S.	57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sturbridge and Wolfeboro 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.	$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S.	$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S.	$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Sturbridge and Wolfeboro 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.	$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1982 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wolfeboro 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	#46 of 120 in NH
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Lowest	11.1Highest
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.