Compare towns
Rowley vs Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowley has the most expensive homes ($615k median).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
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 | Rowley | Sturbridge | Sutton | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,708 |
9,960Highest |
9,452 |
1,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
45±8.4 13% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±6.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Pelham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,622±$17kLowest 5% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$113,750±$24k 9% 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 | $614,800±$39kHighest 9% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$447,600±$33k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,663±$674Highest 6% below MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,205±$560 32% below MA |
| Rowley and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,865 15% above MA |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$7,472Highest 25% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±45.1 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.1% 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 |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 15% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham and Sutton 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Pelham |
| High school in town | — | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.