Compare towns
Sterling vs Sutton vs Hanson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Hanson has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
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 | Sterling | Sutton | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,183Lowest |
9,452 |
10,660Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
42.8±3Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,063±$27kLowest 24% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
| Sutton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
| Hanson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
| Hanson and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,757 13% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972Lowest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wachusett | Sutton | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Lowest |
14.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.