What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walpole has the most expensive homes ($687k median).

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

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	Walpole	Sturbridge
People
Population	26,388Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
Kids under 18	25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Walpole and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Walpole and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA	$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA	$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA	$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,523Highest 42% above MA	$6,520Lowest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Sturbridge and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.6%Lowest MA: 10%	3.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 13 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minLowest 15% above MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Walpole 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	#107 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Walpole High	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	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.