Compare towns
Dudley vs Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% 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 | Dudley | Sturbridge | Sutton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
9,960 |
9,452Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% 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 | $392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
| Webster and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Webster |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
7.7Lowest |
12.6 |
11.6 |
| 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.