What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washington has the most expensive homes ($660k 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	Washington	Sturbridge
People
Population	3,676Lowest	9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+6.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.9±5.5Highest 28% above U.S.	47.2±2.6Lowest 21% above U.S.
	Washington and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sturbridge and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Washington and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Washington and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,549±$16kLowest 26% above U.S.	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$660,200±$130kHighest 98% above U.S.	$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,204±$264Highest 15% below U.S.	$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Washington and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,709Lowest 51% above U.S.	$6,520Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.1%±24Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sturbridge and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 3% below U.S.	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	20.1%±9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Washington 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	#17 of 149 in CT	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Regional School District 12	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Shepaug Valley School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.1Highest	7.7Lowest
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.