Compare towns

Newark 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

Newark has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 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.

MeasureNewarkSturbridgeSutton
People
Population
727Lowest
9,960Highest
790
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-11.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.4±6Lowest
6% above U.S.
47.2±2.6Highest
21% above U.S.
46.6±5.7
20% 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%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Newark and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.9%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Sutton and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41%
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.6%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$72,929±$7k
10% below U.S.
$136,759±$15kHighest
69% above U.S.
$71,250±$18kLowest
12% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$229,900±$23kLowest
31% below U.S.
$425,800±$18kHighest
28% above U.S.
$231,100±$41k
31% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,708±$97Highest
21% above U.S.
$1,193±$398Lowest
16% below U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,771Lowest
21% above U.S.
$6,520Highest
109% above U.S.
$3,975
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
7.1%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.8%±31.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
22.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
85%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
28% above U.S.
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
30 minLowest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
13.8%±8.2
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sturbridge and Newark 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 —
School district Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 Sturbridge · Tantasqua Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
High school in town None in town Tantasqua Regional Sr High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.7
—
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.