Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Orange 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
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 | Orange | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
7,573Lowest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Orange 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% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton 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 |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below 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±$18k 24% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
| 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 9% above MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Sutton |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
9.0 |
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.