What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sturbridge	Sutton
People
Population	9,960Highest	9,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA	44.3±2.5Lowest 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%±3Highest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9%	18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Sturbridge and Sutton 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 MA: 47.3%	52.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.8Lowest 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±$15kLowest 32% above 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±$18kLowest 24% below MA	$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA	$1,190±$401Lowest 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	$6,520Lowest 9% above MA	$6,763Highest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±17.7Lowest 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%	5.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1981Lowest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 30% above MA	30 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	19.8%±4.8Lowest 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	#105 of 282 in MA
School district	Sturbridge · Tantasqua	Sutton
High school in town	Tantasqua Regional Sr High	Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.7Lowest	12.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.