What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has the shortest commute (26 min average).

Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).

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	Windham	Sturbridge
People
Population	19,188Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S.	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sturbridge and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sturbridge and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sturbridge and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S.	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.
	Sturbridge and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S.	$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S.
	Sturbridge and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,232±$332Highest 13% below U.S.	$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Windham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S.	$6,520Highest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sturbridge and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sturbridge and Windham 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	#95 of 133 in ME	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 14	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Windham High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	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.