Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Lisbon vs Brookfield 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 most renters (13.7% rent).
Lisbon has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
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 | Lisbon | Brookfield | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
4,211 |
3,460Lowest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
44.5±5.2 14% above U.S. |
52.4±2.1Highest 35% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Lisbon 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% |
21.3%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Lisbon 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% |
19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield 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. |
$92,708±$12k 15% above U.S. |
$81,250±$37kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$315,700±$26kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$341,900±$23k about the U.S. average |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
— | $1,014±$161Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 109% above U.S. |
$4,044Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$5,092 63% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±75.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.7%±11.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest 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 | #102 of 149 in CT | #109 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Lisbon School District | Brookfield | Sutton |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
— | — | 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.