Compare towns

Sturbridge vs Fall River vs Sutton vs Sturbridge

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%).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
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.

MeasureSturbridgeFall RiverSuttonSturbridge
People
Population
9,960
94,082Highest
9,452
2,443Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+5.8%
MA: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+5.9%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
47.2±2.6
18% above MA
39.3±1.2Lowest
about the MA average
44.3±2.5
11% above MA
47.8±6.8Highest
20% above MA
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%±3Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.9%±1.2
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±3.3
MA: 19.4%
18.7%±4.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Sturbridge and Fall River 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%
16.1%±0.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
18.8%±3.2
MA: 17.9%
19.1%±7.8
MA: 17.9%
Sturbridge 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%
MA: 47.3%
16.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
52.8%
MA: 47.3%
55.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.9%±3.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
Sturbridge 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
$56,673±$3kLowest
45% below MA
$147,125±$25kHighest
42% above MA
$131,568±$34k
27% 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
$395,500±$11kLowest
30% below MA
$523,100±$47kHighest
7% below MA
$418,400±$29k
26% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,193±$398
32% below MA
$1,155±$27Lowest
34% below MA
$1,190±$401
32% below MA
$2,009±$225Highest
14% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,520
9% above MA
$3,953Lowest
34% below MA
$6,763Highest
13% above MA
$6,410
7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42%±17.7
MA: 51.8%
52.5%±3.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
47.5%±24.4
MA: 51.8%
29.1%±19.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Fall River 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%
19.6%Highest
MA: 10%
5.8%
MA: 10%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%
MA: 62.5%
35.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
83.3%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
18 yrs newer than MA
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
1981
17 yrs newer than MA
1958
6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
30% above MA
26 minLowest
11% below MA
30 min
about the MA average
32 min
9% above MA
Work from home
19.8%±4.8
MA: 18.6%
7.1%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.7%±4.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
14%±9.4
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 #262 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA #89 of 282 in MA
School district Sturbridge · Tantasqua Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Sutton —
High school in town Tantasqua Regional Sr High B M C Durfee High Sutton High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
7.7Lowest
11.3
12.6Highest
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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.