Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Acton vs Sutton vs Charlton
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 oldest population (median age 47.2).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% 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 | Sturbridge | Acton | Sutton | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
24,155Highest |
9,452Lowest |
13,435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43±4Lowest 8% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Charlton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
18%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Charlton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$117,587±$8kLowest 13% above MA |
| Acton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$427,500±$19k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,381±$415 22% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$4,617Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
13%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Acton-Boxborough | Sutton | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Sutton High School | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
12.6 |
9.7 |
| 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.