Compare towns

Sturbridge vs Killingly vs Lancaster vs Sutton

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 the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).

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.

MeasureSturbridgeKillinglyLancasterSutton
People
Population
9,960
17,867Highest
8,606Lowest
9,452
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.2±2.6Highest
21% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.1±4.9
11% above U.S.
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
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%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
Sturbridge and Killingly 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%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Killingly 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.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$134,833±$27k
67% above U.S.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% 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.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$519,100±$60k
56% above U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,193±$398
16% below U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,338±$539Highest
65% above U.S.
$1,190±$401
16% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,520
109% above U.S.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$7,235Highest
132% above U.S.
$6,763
117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42%±17.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
68.3%±36.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster 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%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
19.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
33.6%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Lancaster and Sutton 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 #136 of 149 in CT #145 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA
School district Sturbridge · Tantasqua Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Nashoba Sutton
High school in town Tantasqua Regional Sr High Killingly High School None in town Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.7Lowest
11.1
—
12.6Highest
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.