Compare towns
Halifax vs Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Pembroke has the most expensive homes ($587k median).
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 | Halifax | Sturbridge | Sutton | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
9,960 |
9,452 |
18,382Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
45.5±3.3 14% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$146,285±$17k 41% above MA |
| Sutton and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$586,500±$28kHighest 4% above MA |
| Pembroke and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375 about the MA average |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,464±$753Highest 40% above MA |
| Pembroke and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,585 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.1%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
90.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Pembroke 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #82 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Pembroke |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | Pembroke High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
12.6Highest |
12.3 |
| 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.