Compare towns

Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Wareham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sturbridge has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Wareham has the oldest population (median age 52.1).

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.

MeasureSturbridgeSuttonWareham
People
Population
9,960
9,452Lowest
23,302Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%
MA: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
47.2±2.6
18% above MA
44.3±2.5Lowest
11% above MA
52.1±3.1Highest
30% above MA
Wareham and Sturbridge 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%
13.1%±2.4Lowest
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%
26.2%±3.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
Wareham 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%
27.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
Wareham 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
$90,383±$11kLowest
13% 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
$424,500±$21kLowest
24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,193±$398
32% below MA
$1,190±$401Lowest
32% below MA
$1,504±$180Highest
15% below MA
Wareham 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
$4,341Lowest
28% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42%±17.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
47.5%±24.4
MA: 51.8%
51.4%±23.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
Wareham 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%
6.7%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%
MA: 62.5%
89.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
83.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
18 yrs newer than MA
1981
17 yrs newer than MA
1958Lowest
6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
30% above MA
30 min
about the MA average
28 minLowest
5% below MA
Work from home
19.8%±4.8
MA: 18.6%
22.7%±4.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
12.4%±3.6Lowest
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 #272 of 282 in MA
School district Sturbridge · Tantasqua Sutton Wareham
High school in town Tantasqua Regional Sr High Sutton High School Wareham Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
7.7Lowest
12.6Highest
8.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.