Compare towns
Sandgate vs Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Wheelock
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 people working from home (34.6%).
Sturbridge has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Wheelock has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
9,960Highest |
9,452 |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51±5.6 31% above U.S. |
| Sandgate and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5 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+ | 26%±11.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wheelock and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest 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% |
2.8%±2.3 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±$19k 14% below U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below 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±$31k 42% below U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 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 | $2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$2,937 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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 | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate 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 | — | #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 | ||||
| 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.