What stands out worked out from the figures below

Taunton has the most renters (37.9% rent).

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

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	Taunton	Sturbridge
People
Population	60,433Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.9±1.3Lowest about the MA average	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
Kids under 18	21.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Taunton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15%±1.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±0.7 MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,283±$7kLowest 24% below MA	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$422,800±$9kLowest 25% below MA	$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA
	Sturbridge and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,324±$86Highest 25% below MA	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
	Taunton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,344Lowest 28% below MA	$6,520Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Taunton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	8%±1.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#253 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical · Taunton	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Taunton High	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	16.6Highest	7.7Lowest
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.