Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Mendon vs Sutton
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).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($616k median).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Mendon | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
6,325Lowest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| 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%±3 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Sturbridge 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton 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% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon 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 |
$132,256±$33kLowest 27% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% 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±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Mendon-Upton | Sutton |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | 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 |
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.