Compare towns
Ipswich 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
Ipswich has the most expensive homes ($745k median).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Ipswich | Sturbridge | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930Highest |
9,960 |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ipswich and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
$136,759±$15kLowest 32% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Sutton and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90Highest 9% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Ipswich and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960Highest 33% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Ipswich and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8Lowest 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 | #101 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
7.7Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| 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.