Compare towns

Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

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.

MeasureSturbridgeSuttonWindham
People
Population
9,960
9,452Lowest
19,188Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.2±2.6Highest
21% above U.S.
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
41.8±1.8Lowest
7% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
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±$15k
69% above U.S.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
$107,934±$14kLowest
34% above U.S.
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
28% above U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
$388,900±$22kLowest
17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,193±$398
16% below U.S.
$1,190±$401Lowest
16% below U.S.
$1,232±$332Highest
13% below U.S.
Windham and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,520
109% above U.S.
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
$3,938Lowest
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42%±17.7
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
32.7%±14.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
43% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
19.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #95 of 133 in ME
School district Sturbridge · Tantasqua Sutton RSU 14
High school in town Tantasqua Regional Sr High Sutton High School Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.7Lowest
12.6Highest
12.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.