Compare towns

Lisbon vs Sturbridge vs Sutton

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 ($258k median).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k 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.

MeasureLisbonSturbridgeSutton
People
Population
9,750
9,960Highest
9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
47.2±2.6Highest
21% above U.S.
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3Lowest
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+
16.2%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
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+
23.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Sturbridge and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,819±$9kLowest
4% below U.S.
$136,759±$15k
69% above U.S.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% 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
$258,300±$26kLowest
22% below U.S.
$425,800±$18k
28% above U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$979±$286Lowest
31% below U.S.
$1,193±$398Highest
16% below U.S.
$1,190±$401
16% below U.S.
Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,324Lowest
7% above U.S.
$6,520
109% above U.S.
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.4%±14.2
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Sutton and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
9% above U.S.
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±9.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1Highest
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 #60 of 133 in ME #89 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA
School district Lisbon Public Schools Sturbridge · Tantasqua Sutton
High school in town Lisbon High School Tantasqua Regional Sr High Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school
15.8Highest
7.7Lowest
12.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.