Compare towns
Springfield vs Sutton vs Townsend vs Stoddard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most people working from home (16.7%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Springfield | Sutton | Townsend | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,122 |
2,239 |
9,100Highest |
1,072Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stoddard and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Townsend and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946 91% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoddard and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield 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 | — | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Kearsarge Regional School District | North Middlesex | Stoddard School District |
| High school in town | — | Kearsarge Regional High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| 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.