Compare towns
Lisbon vs Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Preston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($316k median).
Sturbridge has the most renters (13.7% rent).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Preston has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Lisbon | Sturbridge | Sutton | Preston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,211Lowest |
9,960Highest |
9,452 |
4,821 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.5±5.2 14% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.2±7 19% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lisbon and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Preston and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Preston and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,708±$12kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$116,648±$27k 44% above 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 | $315,700±$26kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$361,900±$13k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,433±$1kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Preston and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,044Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,749 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±75.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #102 of 149 in CT | #89 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #93 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Lisbon School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Preston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.