Compare towns
Holden vs Sturbridge vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
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 | Holden | Sturbridge | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,064Highest |
9,960 |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% 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 | 24.9%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Holden and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Holden and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $141,923±$11k 37% above MA |
$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Sutton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,700±$13k 16% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Sutton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,648±$214Highest 6% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Holden and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,359Lowest 6% above MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest 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 | #57 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton |
| High school in town | Wachusett Regional High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
7.7Lowest |
12.6 |
| 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.