Compare towns
Sandgate vs Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
Sturbridge has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Arlington has the shortest commute (20 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.
| Measure | Sandgate | Sturbridge | Sutton | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
9,960Highest |
9,452 |
2,598 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
37.6±4Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sandgate and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7 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 | $69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$102,308±$11k 27% 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 | $193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$318,500±$59k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,191±$172 16% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Arlington and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Arlington and Sandgate 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 | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | — | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7Lowest |
12.6Highest |
10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.