Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Quinebaug vs Sutton vs Lancaster
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%).
Quinebaug has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Quinebaug | Sutton | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
1,193Lowest |
9,452 |
8,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
0%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 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% |
29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Quinebaug and Lancaster 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% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 69% above U.S. |
$105,181±$36kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% 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. |
$237,800±$66kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 16% below U.S. |
— | $1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 109% above U.S. |
$3,703Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% 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%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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% |
1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±17.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster and Quinebaug 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 | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | — | Sutton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | — | Sutton High School | None in town |
| 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.