Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Plainville 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).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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 | Plainville | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,960 |
17,551Highest |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Plainville 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% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton 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% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville 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% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville 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. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% 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. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% 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. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 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. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Sutton |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Plainville High School | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
11.4 |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.