Compare towns
Hanson vs Sterling vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Hanson | Sterling | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Highest |
8,183Lowest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$129,063±$27kLowest 24% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Sutton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Hanson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Hanson and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
$6,757 13% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 15% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Sterling 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Wachusett | Sutton |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 12.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.