Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Brewer vs Sutton vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Brewer has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Brewer | Sutton | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
9,652 |
9,452 |
2,443Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
47.8±6.8Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±7.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer 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 69% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$131,568±$34k 63% above U.S. |
| 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 28% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$418,400±$29k 26% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$2,009±$225Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 109% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$6,410 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.1%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±9.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #32 of 133 in ME | #105 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Brewer Public Schools | Sutton | — |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Brewer High School | Sutton High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
14.0Highest |
12.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.