Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Ashburnham vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
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 | Ashburnham | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
6,415Lowest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Sutton 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% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Sturbridge 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% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 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% |
44%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Sturbridge 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 |
$118,809±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% 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 | $425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 9% above MA |
$6,046Lowest about the MA average |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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 | #178 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Ashburnham-Westminster | Sutton |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.