Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Dover vs Sutton vs Lancaster
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 affordable homes ($426k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
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 | Dover | Sutton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
2,308Lowest |
9,452 |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
| Dover 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
— | $1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$7,235 21% 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% |
68.3%±36.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 26% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Lancaster 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | — | Sutton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | — | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.