Compare towns
Hudson vs Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Mansfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1970).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Mansfield has the most expensive homes ($604k 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 | Hudson | Sturbridge | Sutton | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,077 |
9,960 |
9,452Lowest |
23,931Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% 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 | 19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hudson and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above 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 | $496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,803±$147Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892 15% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Mansfield 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2 |
7.7Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.