What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wilbraham has the shortest commute (27 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	Wilbraham	Sturbridge
People
Population	14,572Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±2.7Lowest 11% above MA	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA
	Sturbridge and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4%	20.7%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Wilbraham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%	19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Wilbraham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Wilbraham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,051±$14kLowest 17% above MA	$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA
	Sturbridge and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA	$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA
	Sturbridge and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA	$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA
	Sturbridge and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,658Highest 11% above MA	$6,520Lowest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.1%±23.8Highest MA: 51.8%	42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Wilbraham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Highest MA: 10%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% below MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sturbridge and Wilbraham 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	#88 of 282 in MA	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Hampden-Wilbraham	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Minnechaug Regional High	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.2Highest	7.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.