Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Middlesex vs Sutton vs Sturbridge
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Sturbridge has the most renters (16.7% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Sutton | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
1,943Lowest |
9,452 |
2,443 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.8±6.8Highest 23% above U.S. |
| 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%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±7.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sturbridge and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$131,568±$34k 63% 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. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$418,400±$29k 26% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$2,009±$225Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$6,410Lowest 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.1%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | 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.