Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Ware vs Webster
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).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960 |
9,452Lowest |
10,048 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+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 |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 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%±3 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 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% |
25.3% 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% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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 |
$72,895±$6k 30% below 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 |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
| Webster 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 |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older 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 |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest 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 | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Ware | Webster |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.7Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.1 |
11.6 |
| 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.