Compare towns

Phippsburg 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

Phippsburg has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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.

MeasurePhippsburgSturbridgeSutton
People
Population
2,238Lowest
9,960Highest
9,452
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.3±6.3Highest
40% above U.S.
47.2±2.6
21% above U.S.
44.3±2.5Lowest
14% above U.S.
Phippsburg and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.5%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
34.4%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±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
$107,833±$19kLowest
34% above 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
$335,800±$47kLowest
about the U.S. average
$425,800±$18k
28% above U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,022±$346Lowest
28% 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
$2,034Lowest
35% below U.S.
$6,520
109% above U.S.
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
35.5%±98.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±4.7Lowest
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 — #89 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA
School district RSU 01 - LKRSU Sturbridge · Tantasqua Sutton
High school in town None in town Tantasqua Regional Sr High Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.7Lowest
12.6Highest
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.