Compare towns
Jackson vs Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Chatham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Chatham has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Jackson | Sturbridge | Sutton | Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 897 |
9,960Highest |
9,452 |
430Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.3±8.6 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chatham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±10 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chatham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,986±$46k 46% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$66,042±$19kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$362,900±$42kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
— |
| Jackson and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,001 92% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$3,690Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
36 min 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Jackson 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Jackson School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.