Compare towns
Deerfield vs Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Conway
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Conway has the most people working from home (29.1%).
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 | Deerfield | Sturbridge | Sutton | Conway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,158 |
9,960Highest |
9,452 |
1,755Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
55.6±3Highest 39% above MA |
| Conway and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
31.9%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
60.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14k about the MA average |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$97,250±$11kLowest 6% 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 | $414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$395,900±$25kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 24% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,800±$990Highest about the MA average |
| Conway and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 about the MA average |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,797Lowest 3% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
24 min 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Conway and Sutton 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Conway |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
7.7Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.