Compare towns
Dracut vs Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Middleborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Middleborough has the most renters (23.1% 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 | Dracut | Sturbridge | Sutton | Middleborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574Highest |
9,960 |
9,452Lowest |
24,505 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2Lowest 4% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43.4±2.1 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 | 21.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dracut and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Middleborough and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dracut and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 10% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$97,056±$7kLowest 7% 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 | $473,900±$17k 16% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$468,700±$18k 17% below MA |
| Sutton and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130Highest 4% above MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,706±$72 3% below MA |
| Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375Lowest 10% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,023 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.2%±11.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Dracut and Middleborough 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% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
76.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±2.9 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #170 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dracut | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Middleborough |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | Middleborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
7.7Lowest |
12.6 |
11.3 |
| 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.