Compare towns
Millbury vs Petersham vs Sutton vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Millbury has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Millbury | Petersham | Sutton | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,961 |
1,185Lowest |
9,452 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Millbury and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
| Sutton and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,100±$19k 20% below MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,623±$232 8% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
| Petersham and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,406 10% below MA |
$4,636Lowest 23% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Petersham 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 | #202 of 282 in MA | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millbury | Petersham | Sutton | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | None in town | Sutton High School | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 12.6 |
14.6Highest |
| 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.