Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
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.
| Measure | Ashburnham | Sturbridge | Sutton | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,415Lowest |
9,960 |
9,452 |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34k 30% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,046 about the MA average |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 10% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #178 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Gardner |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
12.6 |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.