What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wrentham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).

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	Wrentham
People
Population	9,960Lowest	12,297Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA	46.8±3.2Lowest 17% above MA
	Sturbridge and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4%	19.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Sturbridge and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Wrentham 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 MA: 47.3%	55.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Wrentham 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	$151,676±$17kHighest 46% above MA
	Wrentham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA	$654,900±$26kHighest 17% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA	$1,184±$628Lowest 33% below MA
	Sturbridge and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,520Lowest 9% above MA	$7,373Highest 23% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Highest MA: 51.8%	40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Sturbridge and Wrentham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%	6.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	82%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 18 yrs newer than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 30% above MA	32 minLowest 11% above MA
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Wrentham 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	#49 of 282 in MA
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	King Philip · Wrentham
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	King Philip Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Lowest	13.5Highest
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.