Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Ware vs Charlton
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%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
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 | Sutton | Ware | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
9,452Lowest |
10,048 |
13,435Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
43±4Lowest 8% 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Charlton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Charlton 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 32% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$117,587±$8k 13% 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 |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$427,500±$19k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,381±$415Highest 22% below MA |
| Charlton and Sturbridge 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,617 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13%±4.2 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Ware | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.1 |
9.7 |
| 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.