Compare towns

Monroe vs Sturbridge vs Sutton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
Sturbridge has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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.

MeasureMonroeSturbridgeSutton
People
Population
122Lowest
9,960Highest
9,452
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+6.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
60.2±9.9Highest
51% above MA
47.2±2.6
18% above MA
44.3±2.5Lowest
11% above MA
Kids under 18
16.4%±28Lowest
MA: 19.4%
20.7%±3Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±3.3
MA: 19.4%
Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.1%±27.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
19.8%±3
MA: 17.9%
18.8%±3.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Monroe and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
49.3%
MA: 47.3%
52.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
9%±18.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.6%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Monroe and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian —
$136,759±$15kLowest
32% above MA
$147,125±$25kHighest
42% 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
$165,000±$141kLowest
71% below MA
$425,800±$18k
24% below MA
$523,100±$47kHighest
7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,193±$398Highest
32% below MA
$1,190±$401Lowest
32% below MA
Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,053Lowest
66% below MA
$6,520
9% above MA
$6,763Highest
13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
42%±17.7
MA: 51.8%
47.5%±24.4Highest
MA: 51.8%
Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
38.5%Highest
MA: 10%
3.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.9%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
86.3%
MA: 62.5%
89.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1982Highest
18 yrs newer than MA
1981
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
56 minHighest
93% above MA
38 min
30% above MA
30 minLowest
about the MA average
Work from home
0%±41.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
19.8%±4.8
MA: 18.6%
22.7%±4.1Highest
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 — #89 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA
School district — Sturbridge · Tantasqua Sutton
High school in town — Tantasqua Regional Sr High Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.7Lowest
12.6Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.