Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Williamsburg vs Whately
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Williamsburg has the most people working from home (26.5%).
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 | Williamsburg | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,443 |
9,452Highest |
2,694 |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%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 |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
49.3±6.7 23% above MA |
| Williamsburg and Whately 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% |
18.6%±4 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% |
22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Whately and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.8% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±3.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Sturbridge 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 |
$104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
$116,563±$15k 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±$29k 26% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,009±$225Highest 14% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,420±$228 19% below MA |
$977±$125Lowest 45% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,410 7% above MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,761 4% below MA |
$5,027Lowest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.1%±19.9 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older 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 |
25 min 13% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±9.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Williamsburg 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 | — | Sutton | Williamsburg | Whately |
| High school in town | — | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.