Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Whately
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has the most renters (16.7% rent).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Sturbridge | Sutton | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,443 |
9,452Highest |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.8±6.8 20% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
| Whately and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±7.8 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Whately and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
47.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $131,568±$34k 27% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$116,563±$15kLowest 12% 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 | $418,400±$29kLowest 26% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,009±$225Highest 14% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,410 7% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,027Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.1%±19.9 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Sutton and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±9.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Whately 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 | — | Sutton | Whately |
| High school in town | — | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.