Compare towns
Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Wellfleet vs Brookfield
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 people working from home (22.7%).
Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k 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.
| Measure | Sturbridge | Sutton | Wellfleet | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,960Highest |
9,452 |
4,404 |
3,460Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+29.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±2.6 18% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
58.4±4.1Highest 46% above MA |
52.4±2.1 31% above MA |
| Wellfleet and Brookfield 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% |
14.4%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest 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% |
35.3%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Wellfleet and Brookfield 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% MA: 47.3% |
64.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield 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 |
$117,938±$27k 13% above MA |
$81,250±$37kLowest 22% 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±$47k 7% below MA |
$855,300±$70kHighest 52% above MA |
$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,563±$597Highest 11% below MA |
$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
| Wellfleet 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 |
$4,862Lowest 19% below MA |
$5,092 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
28.6%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7Highest 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 19% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.7%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and Wellfleet 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 | — | #109 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Wellfleet | Brookfield |
| High school in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town |
| 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.