Compare towns
Middleborough vs Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Dracut
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleborough has the most renters (23.1% rent).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Middleborough | Sturbridge | Sutton | Dracut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,505 |
9,960 |
9,452Lowest |
32,574Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±2.1 9% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
41.7±2Lowest 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 | 18.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dracut and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Middleborough and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dracut and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,056±$7kLowest 7% below MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$114,036±$10k 10% 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 | $468,700±$18k 17% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$473,900±$17k 16% below MA |
| Sutton and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,706±$72 3% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,839±$130Highest 4% above MA |
| Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,023 about the MA average |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,375Lowest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.2%±11.4 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dracut and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.6%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±2Lowest 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 | #170 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #201 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleborough | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Dracut |
| High school in town | Middleborough High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | Dracut Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
7.7Lowest |
12.6 |
12.9Highest |
| 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.