Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Stoneham vs Brookfield vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Stoneham | Brookfield | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
23,355Highest |
3,460Lowest |
9,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham 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% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Stoneham 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 |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$81,250±$37kLowest 22% 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 |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,520 9% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$5,092Lowest 15% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Brookfield 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% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #109 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | — | Brookfield | 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 |
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.