What stands out worked out from the figures below

Templeton has the shortest commute (28 min average).

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

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	Templeton	Sturbridge
People
Population	8,252Lowest	9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.3±5.1Lowest about the MA average	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
	Sturbridge and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.9%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Templeton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.7%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sturbridge and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,154±$15kLowest about the MA average	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$358,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA	$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$353Highest 31% below MA	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
	Templeton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,554Lowest 24% below MA	$6,520Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.7%±26.1Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Templeton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.6%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	16.9%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sturbridge and Templeton 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	#244 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Narragansett	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Narragansett Regional High	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	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.